Thoughts, prayers: Seymour Johnson AFB personnel and community are thinking of Fort Hood

It is a brotherhood of sorts -- communities that are the adopted hometowns of military personnel.

So, here, unlike many other places around America, the news that 13 people were shot to death and many more were wounded because of some crazy man's decision to become a terrorist hits home just a little harder.

Seymour Johnson AFB has been lucky so far -- nothing like this has ever happened here. And we hope it stays that way, and encourage our military personnel to continue the vigilance and security that will keep our airmen safe.

But at the same time, it is hard not to think about our own base and personnel when you see the tears, the uncertainty and the grief on the faces of the families and soldiers at Fort Hood.

Their sorrow must be unimaginable.

There will be plenty of time to discuss the whys and the mistakes that allowed this man to escape the notice of Army and other personnel. It will take time to set in place procedures that heighten awareness and put sharper lookouts in place to watch for people who might be dangerous.

And we likely will never really completely understand what happened that day.

But today, this is a time for thoughts, prayers and support for not only the Fort Hood base and community, but for the thousands of military personnel stationed right here at home and in Afghanistan.

They should know that their country mourns with them and continues to support their efforts -- no matter what.

Published in Editorials on November 6, 2009 10:57 AM