LETTERS: MEN, WOMEN IN MILITARY MISS THEIR FAMILIES

To the editor:

I'm not a writer, but I felt I wanted to put some words down and send to my friends and family and, mostly, to those I have never met.

This time of year is going to be another hard one. For some of the USS Cole battleship, it will be even harder. I'm at four years now of not being home for Christmas either because of time, job or money -- not because I don't want to.

You see, my parents (Doug and Betty Hester), my four brothers and my 11 nieces and nephews are either in Scott City or around Missouri. It is about 1,000 miles and 18 hours of driving away. Don't get me wrong. I'm happily married and have a 14-year-old daughter I love to take to the beach. It is hard to live away from family, but not as hard as our sailors have it here.

It is hard to explain a Navy town. This morning as I sat and had my coffee catching the morning news, everything was about the Navy or military bases. In a few hours, four battleships are coming in. These sailors have been out to sea for six months. The USS George Washington has 15,000 men and women. That's bigger than some of our rural towns in Missouri. These sailors are not only going to see their families, but some of them are meeting their babies for the first time. What a Christmas for them.

Even though they are home and you would think all is well, these sailors have so much adjusting to do. The parent who has been out to sea feels a little left out. The children are used to going to the other parent for their needs, whether to tie a shoe or needing a hug or, yes, even for discipline.

And now that the battleships are in town, that means even more cars on the road. Bet you never thought of that. We do. Virginia Beach is such a loving town to the military and families.

If you know me or my family, you know my cousin and her husband are in Naples, Italy. Believe me, no one knows what this family has been through in 21 years of service to this country. We won't see them for three years, maybe four if they extend his duty.

You ask why this letter is being sent. Because it is Christmas, and we need to thank our military all the way back there in Missouri. This is a very hard time for military personnel. I know what it is like to miss Mom and Dad. But I don't know what it is like to miss a newborn baby or a loved one who was on the Cole.

And before I finish, let me respond to those of you who say we choose this career. You are right. There is something else I have learned in a Navy town: Sailors don't complain.

Lieutenant Harris, Teresa and Casey: We miss you this Christmas while you are in Italy. And thank you both for your 21 years of service to this country. Have a happy new year. Your family in Cape Girardeau, Scott City and Virginia Beach miss you and love you very much.

And I miss you, Mom and Dad.

BEVERLY LORENZ

Virginia Beach, Va.