Recently, I was watching a news interview with a former military officer who wrote a book on the Iraq War. A point was made during the discussion that when families are told that their loved one has been killed in action, they are given a $6,000 settlement, but a form is immediately left with them to fill and file with the Internal Revenue Service so that taxes may be paid.

Our military men and women puts their lives on the line for $650 to $1,000 per month. Most leave a spouse and children behind to go fight for our freedom. The sacrifices that our military men and women are asked to do far exceeds this amount, in my opinion.

I find that taxing this settlement is an outrage and an insult.

I, for one, plan on writing to both Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe in the hope that a bill may be introduced that would abolish any taxes on this settlement given to families.

Having a nephew on active duty makes me understand that when we, as Americans, see a wrong, we must try to correct it, and this is wrong.

Maurice Gardner, Lewiston

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