Ken Halterman (Readers' Forum, Sept. 5) writes that he mourns the loss of heroes Cory Jenkins, Kurt Curtiss and his friend Mike Hughes. All died fighting for our country. Then, he goes further, saying they died for "nothing except pride and bravery."

The writer doesn't understand that freedom … is never free. He doesn't understand that his freedom to read and write to this paper has been purchased for him by the blood of countless, nameless heroes.

I'm grateful that I do understand and appreciate the price others have paid for me. My son, Zachary Lee Padron, is serving right now in Afghanistan. Every minute of the day, his mother and I worry about him. We pray and trust he will come home safe. But if Zachary dies fighting for America, like so many before him, he will have laid down his life for all of us. There is no greater good.

Lee Padron

Draper