OUR VIEW: Veterans have taught us that freedom is never free ... plus, Letters to the Editor

A February 2013 Congressional Research Service report, “U.S. Military Casualty Statistics: Operation New Dawn, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom,” updates data relating to the post 9/11 conflicts, including the numbers of wounded.

The report notes the following:

1) During the Iraq War, 4,475 U.S. service members were killed and 32,220 were wounded; in Afghanistan, 2,165 have been killed and 18,230 wounded through Feb. 5, 2013.

2) Among service members deployed in these conflicts, 103,792 were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over the period 2002 to December 2012. Over that same period, 253,330 service members were diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) of some kind.

3) As a result of battle injuries in the Iraq War, 991 service members received wounds that required amputations; 797 lost major limbs, such as a leg. In Afghanistan, 724 have had to undergo amputations, with 696 losing a major limb. —Source: journalistsresource.org

As we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day on Monday, May 25 as a national holiday and kick-off to summer, we must take a moment to reflect and remember with gratitude and pride, all the Americans who mustered their courage, faith and loyalty to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend.

And while we can’t begin to repay the debt we owe our veterans for their brave service, we can take steps to ease the physical, psychological and financial hardships they may be experiencing.

The VA San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, has need of medical professionals, civilian volunteers and financial donations to assist local veterans. The VA can reached at (858) 552-8585 and sandiego.va.gov

Happy Memorial Day!

— LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / OUR READERS WRITE —

• Sea lions are good business ‘folk’

An open-air fertilizer and aromatherapy shop has been operating for some time now at La Jolla Cove. The business caters in particular to those who might be losing their sense of smell, and to those who wish to transport fertilizer home with their feet.

All indications point to a long-lasting but strained relationship with La Jolla businesses and beach-goers.

The business plan for the shop is to expand to La Jolla Shores and public beaches south of the Pinniped Pool.

The Pinniped Pool receives daily advertisements on the U-T San Diego weather page as polluted waters to avoid. La Jolla Cove will soon enjoy this free advertisement. Environmentalists claim there is nowhere else along the coast where this business could thrive and praise La Jolla for its continued support. —Pete Ward

• Expand Light coverage of local topics, please

The La Jolla Light has done a marvelous job with news about our little slice of heaven in recent times, but lately articles about dog poop, damaged sidewalks, the Cove stench, and the humorous-but-unlikely potential Great White shark attacks have worn out their welcome. Let’s get issues that have more meaning onto the opinion page. Readers can help with this. —William Wyatt

• Glad to read article on trashcan rules

This is Eddie Parker and I am a junior at La Jolla High School. I’ve lived in La Jolla my whole life and growing up reading the La Jolla Light has always provided me with interesting information on what was happening in La Jolla. I just read your article on the trashcans that are being left out in La Jolla and I wanted to say how often I have experienced this exact problem. I bike from my house to La Jolla High and every Monday morning as I’m biking to school, I’m forced off the sidewalk because of the trashcans lining the street. This happens on my way home as well.

I think it’s great that you are raising awareness of this issue. It is not something of terrible importance, but making sure people know to bring their cans in before 6 p.m. will definitely make a difference in La Jolla. The town will look nicer, be easier to get around in, and be safer for everyone. Thank you for writing this article and keeping everyone informed over the years. —Eddie Parker

• WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? Letters to the editor should be 350 words or less, and sent by e-mail to editor@lajollalight.com and must include the full name of the sender, city of residence and phone number for verification.