I am at a boiling point with two subject matters. The first is Indonesia. To hear on the news that our military personnel stationed on USS Lincoln, who were the first in to provide food for the tsunami victims, needing to maintain their fly program only, were denied permission to use the Indonesian air space for practice. To me, this is appalling, disappointing and leaves me to question why we do all the things we do only to be slapped, repeatedly, in the face?

Secondly, it has recently come to my attention that some airlines refuse to amend round trip tickets, especially when government-related business is extended a couple of days. Instead of making changes, the government is forced to purchase new tickets, resulting in paying twice as much money. Why is this? Is it because the airlines are so greedy? Is it because they feel they can do this because it’s the military? We are out there helping the world. Can’t the airlines help out the military?

I am in total amazement how non-customer service friendly the country has become, and how our military members continue to be treated with disrespect through it all, and that it’s being tolerated. I can no longer sit quietly. I am writing to you, in hopes you can look further into this matter and bring a more positive outcome for our military based here and worldwide.

Julie Martindale

Oak Harbor