To the editor:

Over the past six years, we have had the privilege and honor to sponsor Stockings for Soldiers. Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home and Gover Harley-Davidson have sent over 1,000 stockings filled with goodies for Christmas to our local troops who have been deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Over the years, the citizens, businesses and military organizations have generously supported our efforts of sending these stockings to our troops. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks for all the stocking stuffers, financial contributions and those individuals who helped stuff the stockings to send them overseas to our troops.

This is the first year that we have no local troops deployed to these areas. This alone is a true blessing, so this year we will not be sending any stockings. We want to continue supporting our soldiers in this way, who have gone the extra mile to preserve our freedom. If any of our local troops are deployed in the future, during the Christmas season, we will resume sending the Stockings for Soldiers to our troops.

Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home and Piqua Harley-Davidson would like to thank you again for all of your support these past six years.

Jerry Sowers

Funeral Director

Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home, Piqua