Dear Editor:

I hope your Veterans Day was a pleasant one. I feel very secure, not by anything I did but what has been sacrificed by our veterans and those serving today. THANK YOU SO MUCH VETERANS!!I am sending a "thought" written by Joshua Pete, a young Navajo student who was attending Northern Arizona University, and had served several tours in Afghanistan. Joshua attended a breakfast that we had set up to start our "Veterans Appreciation" program at NAU on October 24, 2009. It was a great program lasting the whole day and it was great to see our young "warrior" there.A few weeks later on November 16, Joshua was biking from class to work and was hit by a vehicle and died. It has been a very hurtful experience for all of us connected to NAU. His words, that follow, really describe what Veterans Day reflects as the sacrifices our veterans have made for USA:"On the far side of the world you'll find me living, hurting, sweating, bleeding, fighting, defending you, your family, and all I love, and that's when you remember the true cost of freedom." Spc. Joshua Pete.Joshua's words were never spoken to me...you can believe I will never forget them and where they came from. Joshua certainly did his share but, sadly, will not be here to enjoy the fruits of his labor. We will!I most sincerely thank Joshua and all veterans for what they did "On the far side of the world..." or wherever they served."Thank You Again" veterans from me and a grateful nation!! You have made". . . with liberty and justice for all" a reality.Most sincerely,Dick NothsteinPalmerton