Men in uniform

For Fr George Mercieca to liken "a bunch" of AFM soldiers to thieves for having rendered a service to Heritage Malta in their plans to preserve Malta's scarce military heritage is like forgetting the Church's collusion with the Spanish conqestadores in Latin America during the colonisation of the continent, on the pretext of converting the native Indians to Christendom (March 10).

As an ex-serviceman, I find it most offensive that a member of the local clergy should resort to such name calling the same soldiers who defend Maltese territorial integrity, the liberty of the island nation, who repeatedly stick their necks out, rain or shine, saving the day when and where other government departments fail.

It is simply rude and lacking in appreciation when civil society places other matters, such as tourism adornments in front of a cathedral, before honour, service and duty, which our Maltese soldiers are called upon to perform 24/7, with hardly a fraction of the respect their fellow counterparts get elsewhere in other nations.

Each time folks like me see their mention in the press it makes me proud of having served in the military. It also makes me proud of them too, for they are no doubt the few and the proud. So, let's give credit where it's due.