This thank you will be a little late for Memorial Day, but then a thank you can never really be late. My brother and I would like to thank all of the veterans from past and present wars and conflicts for their courageous duty and their love and respect for this country. This includes everyone from the National Guard to the Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. I hope I didn’t leave any branch out. Without these fighting men and women, there would be no freedom here in the United States. No matter when they served, if they’re still with us or we’ve lost them in battle or in their golden years, they deserve our thanks and well wishes. The families of these veterans also deserve a big thank you for their letting us borrow their loved ones during these times of wars and conflicts. The family members are also brave and well loved, and we thank them also. Again, to all veterans, thank you for being brave enough to fight for our freedom and the freedom of others.

It was Law Enforcement Appreciation Week a couple of weeks ago, and we would like to thank the police officers and sheriff’s deputies for the tireless work they’re doing to keep us safe. There will always be bad guys out there, and law enforcement officers will never be able to stop every crime ahead of time, but these officers took an oath to protect us, and protect us they do. As we’ve seen in the papers and television, in the last year or two officers have become targets for doing their job. All police officers deserve a big thank you for their willingness to head toward a fight and not away. So the next time you see a police officer, make sure they know they’re appreciated. If you see a crime going on or something strange, don’t be afraid to call and have them check it out. If you witness a crime, tell them what you know. Don’t think someone else will do it. After all, they can’t do their jobs without us. Thank you to everyone at the Law Enforcement Center for your care and dedication.

Kathy Diaz

Albert Lea