Army Lt. Andrew Powell, brought this sign to Jim Connolly, left, Saturday March 2, 2013 in Santa Rosa, back from Afghanistan, which was dedicated to his son Army Sgt. Ryan J. Connolly who was killed by a land mine June 24, 2008 in Khogyani, Afghanistan. The base was named after Connolly and was displayed at the forward operating base near where he was killed. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2013

Letter of the Day: Who sacrifices?

Who sacrifices?

EDITOR: I experienced such conflicting emotions upon seeing Sunday's Empire section. In one photograph are several young women celebrating the Wine Road Barrel Tasting. It's a fine event and certainly an appropriate event to enjoy. Above that photograph is another of Jim Connolly accepting a sign brought back from Afghanistan in memory of his son, Ryan Connolly, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008. Sgt. Connolly left behind a wife, a young daughter and a devastated family. It seems even more heartbreaking to know he was a medic.

What most strikes me is how the concept of shared sacrifice in time of war has become a forgotten concept in this country. Only a small percentage of families carry the burden of military service. The country seems content to pay for our wars on credit, the reasons for going to war are seldom seriously debated, and those of us unaffected by war go on with our lives as if the wars don't exist.

It's sobering to contemplate how different a day was experienced by Jim Connolly and his family compared to the 15,000 people at the barrel tasting.

DAN JENKINS

Santa Rosa

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