TO THE EDITORS:

As an American citizen, I am bothered, bewildered and somewhat incensed. I read in the paper recently that New York City is having a ticker-tape parade for the New York Giants to celebrate their victory in the Super Bowl.

Now, I am as much a football fan as anyone, and yes, I watched the game. However, I am bothered and incensed because there will be a ticker-tape parade for men who are highly paid to do their jobs on a well-protected playing field, and who will go home to a soft bed and a hot meal, while our military men and women, who are doing their grossly underpaid jobs on foreign soil, will not even be recognized when they return home.

So far, one city in these 50 United States has held a parade for the warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, men and women who have freely volunteered to leave their homes and families to go to some other country's defense, thereby offering their lives to ensure the freedom of the citizens of those countries, as well as the freedom that we enjoy here in America.

Am I wrong to think that these returning warriors deserve at least as much acknowledgment as those well-paid football players who possibly won the game because an opposing player dropped a ball? Not in my book!

May God Bless every veteran, every man or woman who is currently serving, as well as their families who face the ultimate sacrifice and all those who will do so in the future.

M. J. Oniffrey

Manor Township

(Editors' note: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey and other Army officials "made it clear" to the city that they do not think a parade for Iraq war veterans is appropriate while so many other troops are serving overseas and aren't yet coming home.)