Thanksgiving and Christmas are often fearsome, lonely times of the year for some of our brave American soldiers deployed overseas.

I, too, shared that fearful loneliness when I was stationed in South Korea serving with the U.S. Army. I recall how meaningful it was to receive a package from home, to know I was not forgotten and that someone cared.

To all of you who’ve sacrificed their time and resources to send Christmas stockings and other treasured gifts to our soldiers far from home, please accept my deepest heartfelt “thank you” on behalf of those now serving and those of us who once did.

God bless and protect America and our brave soldiers who are still fighting and dying for our freedoms — too often taken for granted.

Linda Schaeffer

Westport