Good evening everyone,

We are the Smith Family. We have been a member of the community since 1988. I grew up and went to school in Lakeland, graduating from George Jenkins High School. I am currently serving in the United States Air Force on Active Duty orders stationed up in Minot, ND providing strategic intelligence analysis to support their nuclear deterrence mission which houses 2/3 of the nuclear triad - the B-52 Bombers and the Minuteman III ICBM. I'm third generation in my immediate family to serve in the military; however, our family has ancestors that fought for this country during the Revolutionary War. We are proud of our long-standing military heritage and grateful to serve this beautiful and amazing country we are so fortunate to call home.

Last week I contacted the Polk County Sheriff's Office to do a wellness check on our home in Lakeland. Upon their arrival they had reached out to me to let me know the house had been broken into, burglarized, ransacked, and completely and utterly destroyed along with a vehicle, golf cart, and riding mower stolen. Our home is no longer habitable whatsoever after what these criminals did. This was our home and many of our cherished belongings and family heirlooms were found to be gone. Most of which we never expect to see again and had been passed down in our family for generations.

Our memories and photographs were scattered, ripped, torn, and ruined from the criminals that had broken in and decided to squat on the property. Graffiti and profanity was spray painted on the walls and doors of the home, appliances stolen, and the walls ripped apart only to assume the criminals were looking for things to sell. I am headed back to continue my duty at Minot AFB and comfort my grieving mother after this tremendous loss that we were not expecting.

For those of you who have posted nice comments, prayers, and well wishes, I have read them, and am grateful for your support. If anyone would like to donate to our page here to help us through this difficult time, it would mean more than you know and help make a difference in our lives. God Bless you all, God Bless the PCSO, and God Bless this incredible country.

Very Respectfully,

The Smith Family