Today marks the first day of “Thank A Soldier Week”, and I wanted to take this opportunity to not only thank the men and women serving in our military, but to thank Townhall.com for making it so easy for the rest of us to share our appreciation for our armed forces. 

If you haven’t yet visited the website www.thankasoldierweek.com, you really need to stop by today.  The folks at Townhall.com have provided us with the ability to send a letter of thanks to a soldier overseas right from our computer.  All you have to do is fill in your name, your e-mail address, your zip code, and your message.  Click “submit” and your message is on its way.

Of course, that’s not the only way to say “thanks” this week.  If you see someone in uniform while you’re eating lunch or dinner, why not pick up their tab.  Give up a parking space in the crowded mall to a member of the military.  I live in a neighborhood full of military families, and one of the things my wife is doing this week is baking cookies for the families on our block who have military members.  It’s not much, but it’s something to let them know we care. 

In fact, I want to take a moment to talk about a couple of the guys on my block.  I’ll start with “Dan”.  He’s a career military guy, with a great wife and two wonderful kids.  He and I share the odd joint obsession of Big 12 athletics and the Boston Red Sox.  Dan does one of those jobs that you don’t really talk about, so I can’t share any of his exploits here.  I do know that Dan’s done multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, and wants to go back again. 

Then there’s “Ted”, the resident Marine on our block.  He too has been to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and his reserve unit’s been called up to help those Gulf Coast residents affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  He’s got two children under the age of three, and another on the way.  A devoted husband and father, “Ted” once told me that his biggest worry overseas was not whether he’d make it home, but how his wife was coping without him around to help out. 

These men are two of the finest human beings I’ve ever known.  Just talking to them makes me feel like I haven’t done enough for this country.  I’ve never worn the uniform of our military, and I know these men have fought on behalf of people like me, who all to often take them for granted.  But not this week.  This week, I will thank them for their service to this country, for putting their lives on the line, for bringing democracy to foreign lands while protecting our freedom here at home.  This week, I will thank them for being a soldier.  I hope you’ll do the same, for the soldiers you know and those you don’t. 

I’m proud that NRAnews.com is a sponsor of www.thankasoldierweek.com.  I plan on spending a lot of time there this week, writing to those who serve.  I hope you’ll do the same.