A Kentucky family is mourning the loss of Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, a 26-year-old from Hardin County who died after injuries sustained in an Iranian attack on a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia. His death is a sobering reminder that global conflicts are never distant. They reach into communities across the Commonwealth. While the United States must take threats seriously and protect its interests abroad, those decisions carry real costs. Each life lost is not an abstraction, but a son, a neighbor, and a member of a local community. Truly honoring that sacrifice requires careful judgment, clear objectives, and a commitment to ensuring that when Americans are placed in harm’s way, it is done with purpose and resolve.