More than 5,000 National Guard members and Armed Forces Reservists in Ohio have been called into active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan to fight the war on terror, according to the Department of Defense.

But unlike their full-time military counterparts, many guardsmen and reservists have full-time civilian jobs - police officers, firefighters, teachers - and must leave those jobs and their families behind, often at a tremendous financial sacrifice.

State Sen. Mark Mallory, D-Cincinnati, this week introduced legislation that would give state tax credits to members of the National Guard and Armed Forces Reserve called to active duty. It's an idea worth supporting.

The legislation would refund $2,500 to members who have served in either Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It's a small sum but a large step forward in alleviating the debt and stress that a soldier can face when he or she returns home.

"When these soldiers are called to defend their country, they are putting their lives on hold. This bill is designed to provide financial relief to soldiers who are no longer receiving their regular income," Mallory said.

For those of us not directly involved, it can be easy to overlook that fact. But for the soldiers who return home to growing bills and debt, it is an inescapable reality. They deserve help.

Mallory said the state should pay for the measure with money that is not spent by state agencies. As of June, he said the state had an unspent balance of more than $150 million.

Not only can government do its part, but creditors and businesses can play a role as well, perhaps by freezing interest payments on debt, or by filling soldiers' jobs with temporary employees.

To that end, Mallory also said he would introduce legislation to grant tax relief to small businesses with employees affected by the war. This legislation is intended to help businesses cover the costs of hiring temporary employees to fill in for those who are called to active duty.

Supporting this legislation is one way Ohioans can help honor the sacrifices of their friends and neighbors who are off to war. Mallory's idea deserves to be passed into law.