To Mr. Terry and the people of Colquitt,

I guess some of you have forgotten.

I first started getting the Miller County Liberal via email last year while deployed to Afghanistan. I subscribed because of a letter Glenda Bailey had written in the opinion section of the paper. It was about the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and how we all need to show our support for them and their families. I thought it would be a good idea, being from Miller County and deployed for my third time, to keep up with what's going on back home.

I am now deployed for my fourth time to Afghanistan and recently had to go back to Colquitt for emergency leave. I woke up at home on the morning of September 11 and thought I would ride through my home town to see how the place was looking. As I drove into town, I noticed that the American flag was flying high at one of the businesses. I stopped to remind them that it was September 11 and that the flag should be at half-staff. I was asked by the proprietor what they needed to do. "Figure it out", I thought. I also drove by three federal buildings that had the American flag flying high. I stopped, lowered the flag to half-staff myself and said a prayer for those who lost their lives that day and for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq - having just left from over there, I would say they need it.

I am now back in Afghanistan, and, as I thought about my trip back home, realized how much this bothered me, I felt that I should say something.

As a soldier that had to leave his brothers in Afghanistan to go home for a family emergency, I must say that I was very disappointed to see how that tragic day has been so easily forgotten. I realize that 2001 may seem like a long time ago to some. I realize that in seven years, a lot of things change. However, I would like to believe that in that seven years people have not become so jaded as to disregard their fellow Americans. I would like to believe that in that seven years people have not become so cynical as to shrug off the patriotism that was so prevalent after the attacks. I would also like to believe that in that seven years people have not become so monopolized by their day-to-day activities that they could not take a moment to simply think of those overseas fighting to protect against another attack. However, this is exactly what I have found, and I am sadden by it.

For those of you who remembered to honor September 11, I would like to thank you. However, for those of you who were too busy that day to remember, you should be ashamed of yourselves. I ask you to take a moment now to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on that day, for those who have lost their lives since fighting to ensure your freedom, and for those of us still over here away from our families and friends struggling each day to protect you from harm.

Let us not let another anniversary go by unnoticed.

And for those of you who own a flag, either learn to display it correctly or give it to a real American.
Sincerely,
Mickey Kennedy