There really aren’t words to express what we want to say.

But we’re going to try.

To Gold Star Mother Harriet Goodiron, a Gold Star Mother, and every other Gold Star Mother, and every family member: wife, husband, father, son, daughter, and so on, who has lost someone not only to the war in Afghanistan, but to any war.

Thank you.

It almost feels hollow.

But your sons, Cpl. Nathan Goodiron, along with the other brave military members from North Dakota: Cpl. Curtis Mehrer, Bismarck, Sgt. Travis Van Zoest, Bismarck, Cpl. Chris Kleinwachter, Wahpeton, Spc. Keenan Cooper, Wahpeton, Sgt. 1st Class Darren Linde, Devils Lake, and Spc. Tyler Orgaard, Bismarck, will not be forgotten.

We could never imagine the pain that is felt by those who have lost.

How things ended in Afghanistan, Harriet said it best, “It’s almost like we didn’t make a difference there.”

Cpl. Nathan Goodiron, Cpl. Curtis Mehrer, Sgt. Travis Van Zoest, Cpl. Chris Kleinwachter, Spc. Keenan Cooper, Sgt. 1st Class Darren Linde, and Spc. Tyler Orgaard all made a huge difference.

We just can’t see it.

That’s probably what makes it so hard.

We can only see the result and not the work done.

Not the change that was made, not the lives affected while the boots were on the ground.

Just the result…

Again, Harriet said it best on her Facebook, “Nate’s flag flew along with other unsung heroes, the champions of our freedom.”

We are free and it is because of Cpl. Nathan Goodiron, Cpl. Curtis Mehrer, Sgt. Travis Van Zoest, Cpl. Chris Kleinwachter, Spc. Keenan Cooper, Sgt. 1st Class Darren Linde, and Spc. Tyler Orgaard, and all of those who have served.

And…

We will never be able to thank those who have fought for our freedom enough.

You are all truly –

The Champions of Freedom.