Dear Mr. President,

It is with an unbelievable heavy heart that I find myself writing this letter to you. I recently watched a documentary about the day to day things that happen at Arlington National Cemetery in section 60. The people who have lost a father, mother, son, daughter, or a loved one , and how their loss has changed their lives forever. As I sit in the comfort of my own home, with all of the happiness and success that I have achieved in my life surrounding me, with tears streaming down my face, I cannot help but think  how I felt on the morning of September 11, 2001.

     I have always loved my country and considered myself a true patriot. I guess I always supported the current president whomever he may be.  In your case I was so happy that you were elected, I felt like a person I could respect was now sitting in our white house. I felt you were a person who’s ideas and policies i could mostly agree with. It must be an almost intolerable burden to know that your decisions led to the sacrifice of so much of our national blood and treasure. I just wanted you to know, it had to be done, it was the right thing to do.  History will judge you as a man who took it directly to the enemy, and hard. I always felt secure that you were our commander in chief. I know some of these things you did were controversial and didn’t actually work out as you planned, however it gave me great comfort to see you come from behind that curtain in Iraq at thanksgiving and landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier. I didn’t agree with everything you did, in fact I think you missed some real opportunities to connect with the folks. I wish you had just ascended the stage and told the American people ” I need you to trust  me on this war” or “Folks, we are going to be OK” or “I need your support on this vote”. It would have been much easier for us to swallow the tough decisions needed to keep us safe. I do wish you all my best!

Jim Salmon