I had the privilege of meeting a very sweet group of young ladies last week. They are the Girl Scouts of Rock Spring. They are Troop 40126, and they meet at the Rock Spring United Methodist Church. This group of young ladies donated several boxes of Girl Scout cookies for the soldiers boxes that we mail each week. I know the soldiers will be grateful for these cookies because they miss the good things from home.

As you may know we came very close to a government shutdown this week, and you have to realize that our soldiers in combat zones would not have received their pay if it had happened. Just the threat of a shutdown caused many of these soldier's checks to be delayed. I talked with several of the families that we support, and they experienced great anxiety from this possible shutdown. The soldiers in the field were worried that their families were not being taken care of back home so it was very hard to concentrate on their job.

I find it very offensive that our soldiers in combat zones have to worry about getting paid while many “pet” government projects continue to be funded. I am sure that you are aware that this government shutdown could still take place in the near future — thus, the soldiers and their families have to go through the same worry again.

I intend, as a private citizen, to contact my state representatives. I feel like the military pay should be put in a separate fund, so that soldiers are not affected by possible shutdowns. If the attitude toward our soldiers and their families does not improve, I believe that in the near future many will not consider the military as a career. If this happens, the draft will be brought back because many will not enlist voluntarily, and thus the all-volunteer military will collapse.

I encourage each person reading this article to write your respective representatives, and support our military. This is the way our government is set up: to have the ability to voice your opinion. If you do not, then those that are supposed to represent you assume you have nothing to say, and that you are happy and content with what is going on in our country. I would say, stand up and be counted.

Roger Sherrill lives in Ringgold. He can be reached by email at halojumper@charter.net or by phone at 706-937-3918. You can also become a fan of Operation Coffee Cup on Facebook.