Editor, Times-Union: An open letter to the United States Senate and House of Representatives: Dear Congressmen and Senators, Amidst this holiday season, I am thankful that I was able to spend Thanksgiving with my son, a serving soldier. As a veteran myself, I know well that most of our servicemen and women were not with their families this past weekend, nor will they be home for Christmas. Such is the nature of their service to our nation. All of the men and women in our armed forces volunteered with the knowledge that their service would not be a nine-to-five job. Despite this, they enlisted or were commissioned and willingly serve stateside and abroad, protecting American interests and projecting American ideals. Over 60,000 troops are currently serving in harm’s way in Afghanistan. They did not carve the family turkey this past weekend, nor will they be filling their children’s stockings on Christmas Eve. They will be doing what has been asked of them, without complaint, and without regret. They know that they are part of something much bigger than themselves and that the missions they are tasked with are important to the American people. While the selfless men and women serving around the world do battle in America’s name, an equally important, if not greater battle is being fought here at home. It is the fiscal cliff which looms in front of us. We are marching toward it, double-time, and will run out of road on Jan. 1, 2013. I am certain you are aware of the consequences of the Budget Control Act of 2011 becoming effective. I am equally certain you would like to avert the tax increases to Americans and small businesses that will only deepen the recession we are experiencing. I urge you to rally the members of your respective elected bodies to work through the holidays to craft an agreement that will avoid the fiscal nightmare facing us. I urge you to demonstrate a fragment of the selflessness our service member routinely do and cancel the holiday hiatus, working within the Senate and Congress until a solution has been found. Just as our military volunteered to serve our nation, each and every one of you chose to seek elected office. You were elected to serve your districts and states in doing the people’s business. It is time to put business ahead of pleasure, duty above self. In the Army, we have an expression: Mission first, soldiers always. It is time for the Congress and Senate to put the nation first, Americans always. David M. Hudson Sr. Mentone, via e-mail
