From Fort Bliss comes this story of the war and of the American spirit. It is a story and not, as usual here, an essay with specific thesis. What is to be gained from story must be felt with ones whole being.

An army major, upon whom I have depended for much of my observations during Operation Iraqi Freedom, talked with an NCO who had been assigned to escort one of the families coming to this Texas army post for the memorial ceremony for those members of the 507th Maintenance Company who had been killed by their Iraqi captors. Their son and brother was one so to be honored for his supreme sacrifice. The family looked for some closure, some meaning to their own sacrifice.

The soldier met the grieving family at the El Paso airport the day prior to the ceremony and took them to a local Applebee's for a meal. It was a somber time, of course, but children at a nearby table provided some welcomed distraction from their sorrow. They watched as the children, apparently lost in play with no awareness of the drama, colored away.

As the children walked past the table, it became evident they had been fascinated with the soldier in his fresh uniform. They had been hearing things about soldiers and had gained new appreciation. Stopping before this soldier with some embarrassment but clear purpose, they handed him the table napkins on which they had colored.

One pictures an American flag. The other napkin offers the words: "Thank you for your service."

The children knew nothing of the visiting family, of course, but as is often so with children they acted more wisely than they knew. They contributed a dimension no formal ceremony could. Just seeing what they children had done reminded the family of the honor being paid to their own son, who was no more. They cried.

The soldier, quite aware of the honor given to him by the assignment and of his great responsibility, recognized the larger matter. He entrusted the napkins to this family. It was, indeed, an award. One that came from deep within the hearts of innocent children, now learning something about those to whom they are indebted.

The soldier signaled to the waitress for the bill. She whispered the staff had been watching all this and had taken a collection and themselves paid for the meals.

This happened because Americans are this way.