Hi all,
I decided to post this interesting letter that was sent to Michele to counter the nasty anonymous letter she and Sgt. Hook received via email. I also thought it was nice that a soldier on leave, would decided to go to NYC, just because he wanted to see for himself where this war began. When Michele met with PFC Jon, she showed him pictures of the early days after 9/11, and took him around the area affected by the collapse of the towers, and how the lives of New Yorkers were affected. He was surprised to see the extent ot the damage up close and personal, much which is still under construction many years later.
Having only seen negative media reports on TV, he took Michele's advice to come to NY to see and learn for himself, what Americans really think of the war, and to see how biased the media really is. Well, he got the shock of his life on his last day here, after putting on his uniform and checking out of the hotel to go back to Iraq. Here's the letter he sent when he got back.
Melissa
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Dear Michele,
It was a true pleasure to finally meet you after months of receiving such uplifting correspondence from you.
Sorry I didn't write sooner, but I was busy as soon as I got back to the camp, telling as many soldiers as I could about my trip to NY and the incredible experiences I had.
I have to tell you something very heartwarming, which you told me would happen if I wore the uniform. When I was walking around in Times Square on my way to Port Authority to catch my bus to the airport, people, strangers were coming up to me, thanking me for what I was doing in Iraq. I could not go more than a few hundred feet without someone stopping me and thanking me. It was an experience I'll not soon forget.
It's actually one of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me in my short life. I now know that New Yorkers love their soldiers, I felt it with every handshake and hug. Please keep writing as I want to share your uplifting letters with the men in my platoon. While I was gone, they all missed your "messages from back home", they are what keeps us going day in an out. You are an incredible woman and one I will not soon forget.
Hope all is going well with you. Look forward to hearing from you.
PFC Jon
Friends,
We urge you to counter that negative message Sgt. Hook received, by supporting the following organizations in order to make a tangible POSITIVE difference in this world. They are: Books For Soldiers, and the USO.