On March 20, the United States launched military action against the oppressive leadership of Iraq.

Thirty days later, the bloodshed mercifully has reached an apparent conclusion.

Seven soldiers who were rescued Sunday after being held captive for three weeks, as well as Pvt. Jessica Lynch, rescued earlier, will have the opportunity to embrace their loved ones, to share in the familiarity, warmth and comfort of home.

At the beginning of the conflict, the issue of why the United States was going to war was either oil, terrorism or Saddam's leadership.

Thirty days later, Saddam is out of power, there are some burning oil wells and terrorism still has to be ended.

No matter whether each soldier who fought in this war on either side believed they were in the right, they fought because they were ordered to.

During the course of the war, 123 U.S. troops died as a result of battling Iraqi soldiers, through friendly fire or in accidents. Four American soldiers still are unaccounted for.

The number of British casualties stands at 31 soldiers dead.

And who knows exactly how many Iraqi men, women and children perished as a result of this war?

We on the staff of The Ranger realize the importance of the seven former POWs returning to their loved ones safely.

The eight coalition soldiers who will return home after being detained by Iraqi forces once again will share in everything that America has to offer, including homemade apple pie, baseball and the opportunity to state their grievances about how they believe the country is being run.

Welcome home, each and every one of you. We celebrate your courage, determination and hard work.

For those whose lives were lost, they will not be forgotten.

They made the greatest sacrifice. When the leadership of this country ordered them to go, they went.

The result was that they paid with their lives so we as citizens can sit back and relax in the safety and comfort of home. We hope that in 12 years' time, a different group of young soldiers won't have to go and fight another war.