We hope our senior readers will be enjoying their travels this year, and we’ll continue to do our best to provide quality information, reviews and suggestions. However, young men and women in our Armed Forces will be traveling in 2009 for different, often dangerous reasons. If you’ve sent presents or greetings to those special members of your family and others in uniform during the holiday season, please don’t just stop there.

Serving overseas is a 365-day and night task for those brave young Americans, and their isolation and loneliness isn’t just at holiday time. It is constant, stressful and too often ignored by too many of us. If you served in the Armed Forces during this and other wars, you certainly understand why today’s GIs need reassurance that the people back home are eager to offer their total love and constant support.

Keep sending presents, letters and emails throughout the year to those you know, and to other GIs you don’t know who’d appreciate contact from someone back home. If you want names, check with your local church, synagogue, school or college office. You can also go to the internet for information and services provided by the USO, Red Cross and other organizations that benefit GIs.

For all of us who’ve served and those now serving in America’s Armed Forces, we thank you.