Dear Mr. and Mrs. Nelson,

I couldn't believe it when I read your story in this month's Guideposts. My sister-in-law and her husband, Larry and Maren Feiring, live in Stanley, ND, and I have seen your daughter's beautiful tombstone many times while driving though Stanley to visit them. I am married to Tony Anderson, son of Gerald and Ruth Anderson of Tioga, and the story of your daughter being the only North Dakotan killed in that vicious attack really struck home for us. When Ruth was sick and moved into the Stanley hospital, I made a point of driving by your daughter's gravesite, which is very visible from that street, and saying a silent prayer for her and for you. I have two nephews who are Navy SEALs. The older one, Cordy, has done two tours in Iraq. I worried every day that he was there. The first tour, he was the point man in guarding the Prime Minister Allawi. He also got commendations for three actions against "insurgents" (terrorists). He doesn't talk about it much, but I know that he killed some of them. His little brother, Quinn, will be going to Iraq in April. I don't know how you feel about forgiveness, and being printed in Guideposts, you probably have a lot more forgiveness in your mind than I have. I also know that "vengeance will be mine" is in the Bible, but I just want you to know that when Quinn is in Iraq and has a chance to kill one of these guys, he will say, "This is for Ann." That is what I will ask him to do, and he will do it. I won't leave that decision up to you, because you might be against it. Maybe you don't want that, but it will be done. In my opinion, we are in a religious war against these people -- they killed your daughter, and they will continue to try to kill my nephews. I will continue to pray for you and for her. And for my Navy SEALs.

As an aside, Tony and I are moving from Hayward, WI back to Denver to start a new bank. And I still miss Ruth, who was the best mother-in-law in the world!

Love,
Norma Anderson