Today my unit got some cards from a class of 4th graders from Martha G. Ruggles Elementary School in Chicago Il. They were the had written, crayon, glue and construction paper kind of cars that only a kid can make. This is not an uncommon occurance but what was most touching to me was that THESE WERE KIDS FROM MY ALMA MATER. I WENT TO MARTHA G. RUGGLES ELEMENTARY FROM KG-8TH GRADE!!! It almost brought a tear to my eye to imagine these kids from the neighborhood I grew up in, sitting in class making these cards. They were the cuties of cards, all pink and yellow and red and green. Scribbles of shaky and misspelled handwriting proclaiming "THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE" and "STAY SAFE" only served to pull at my heart strings. Some filled with candy taped sloppily to the inside, others with pictures of men and women in G.I. Joe type camoflage. It was touching. And in the middle of this moving experience I realized that these kids would not have any consern or knowledge of our presence in Iraq if it weren't for the parents. The parents that tell thier children that what we do here is noble and just. The parents that give thier children, even at that early age, a sense of pride and duty. The parent's that had to have helped these kids write and construct these cards because they wanted to show thier appreciation for us. So I show my appreciation for them. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! (SALUTE)