>
>> >
>> >> >I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that
> you
>> >>>find all over the country.
>> >>>
>> >>>You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells
>> >>>littering
>> >>>the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with long
>> >>>neck beers and sizzling platters.
>> >>>
>> >>>Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my
>> >>>glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal.
>> >>>
>> >>>They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they
>> >>>were
>> >>>definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that
>> >>>"squared
>> >>>away" look that comes with pride.
>> >>>
>> >>>Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my
>> >>>husband usually sat.
>> >>>
>> >>>It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking
>> >>>about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East.
>> >>>
>> >>>That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come
> back
>> >>>to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak.
>> >>>
>> >>>In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about
>> >>>him until he returned home
>> >>>
>> >>>I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he
>> >>>was at this very moment.
>> >>>
>> >>>Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting
>> >>>through to him?
>> >>>
>> >>>As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next
>> >>>booth broke into my thoughts.
>> >>>
>> >>>"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think
>> >>>that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord.
>> >>>
>> >>>What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he
>> >>>stole the election?"
>> >>>
>> >>>I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless
>> >>>tirade running down our president.
>> >>>
>> >>>I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared
>> >>>to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax
>> >>>shots.
>> >>>
>> >>>The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still
>> >>>gives me chills.
>> >>>
>> >>>Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>"It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and
>> >>>steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'.
>> >>>
>> >>>Hmmm! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it
> a
>> >>>thought. It's pure greed, you know."
>> >>>
>> >>>My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see
> how
>> >>>handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it
>> >>>on
>> >>>my finger.
>> >>>
>> >>>I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform,
>> >>>affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest
> over
>> >>>it.
>> >>>
>> >>>"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are
>> >>>hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase
>> >>>the president's popularity.
>> >>>
>> >>>That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our
>> >>>social security and education.
>> >>>
>> >>>And, you know what else?
>> >>>
>> >>>We're just asking for another 9-11. I can't say when it happens again
>> >>>that we didn't deserve it."
>> >>>
>> >>>Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering
>> >>>outside our base.
>> >>>
>> >>>Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave
>> >>>their homes and family to ensure our freedom?
>> >>>
>> >>>Do they even know what "freedom" is?
>> >>>
>> >>>I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their
>> >>>courageous faces change.
>> >>>
>> >>>They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening
>> >>>to the women talking.
>> >>>
>> >>>"Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am
>> >>>certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional
>> >>>baby-killers we call a military."
>> >>>
>> >>>Professional baby-killers? I thought about what a wonderful father my
>> >>>husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our
> children
>> >>>again.
>> >>>
>> >>>That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in
> my
>> >>>husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had.
>> >>>
>> >>>Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her
>> >>>pride in our troops be known.
>> >>>
>> >>>Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and
>> >>>placed my hands flat on their table.
>> >>>
>> >>>Lowering myself to eye level with them, smilingly said, "I couldn't
> help
>> >>>overhearing your conversation.
>> >>>
>> >>>You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone.
>> >>>
>> >>>And, do you know why?
>> >>>
>> >>>Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around
> the
>> >>>world defending your right to say rotten things about him."  "Yes, you
>> >>>have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my
>> >>>business.
>> >>>
>> >>>However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit
> by
>> >>>and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY  husband, and
>> >>>all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the
>> >>>line, just so you can have the "freedom" to  complain. Freedom is an
>> >>>expensive commodity, ladies.
>> >>>
>> >>>Don't let your actions cheapen it."
>> >>>
>> >>>I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the manager came
>> >>>over to inquire if everything was all right.
>> >>>
>> >>>"Yes, thank you," I replied.
>> >>>
>> >>>Then, turning back to the women, I said,
>> >>>
>> >>>"Enjoy the rest of your meal."
>> >>>
>> >>>As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed for
>> >>>making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak.
>> >>>The women picked up their check and scurried away.
>> >>>
>> >>>After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager
>> >>>returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode
>> >>>
>> >>>"Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the
>> >>>ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten
>> >>>them to it.
>> >>>
>> >>>When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the
>> >>>gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one
>> >>>of
>> >>>our  boys."
>> >>>
>> >>>With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and
>> >>>thanked them for the cobbler.
>> >>>
>> >>>Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth.
>> >>>
>> >>>"We just wanted to thank you, ma'am.  You know we can't get into
>> >>>confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did."
>> >>>
>> >>>As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I
>> >>>didn't feel quite so alone.
>> >>>
>> >>>My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by
>> >>>my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would
>> >>>keep him in their prayers.
>> >>>
>> >>>I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day.
>> >>>
>> >>>Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in
>> >>>our country, and the military that protect her.
>> >>>
>> >>>And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our
>> >>>country would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America
>> >>>offers, and the price it pays to maintain its freedom.
>> >>>
>> >>>As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference.
>> >>>
>> >>>GOD BLESS AMERICA!
>> >>>
>> >>>Janet S. Jarosz
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Peter D. Thomas p.d.thomas@larc.nasa.gov
>> >> NASA Langley Research Center http://edu.larc.nasa.gov/
>> >> MS 400
>> >> Hampton, VA  23681-2199
>> >>
>> >> 757-864-3117/9701 (fax)
>>
>

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