In introducing the Memorial to Noncitizen Patriots Act - honoring U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq who aren't citizens of the United States - Congress recalls the words of George Washington: "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

Joining fellow California Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham in introducing the act, Rep. Jane Harman says that although the country might be divided over Iraq, it is united in its support for the U.S. military. Of those, she counts 36,177 noncitizen members of the U.S. military, 17 of whom have lost their lives in Iraq.

The act would authorize construction of a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery honoring the sacrifice of all foreign-born U.S. military members, from this and past wars, killed in the line of duty.

HUMEUR AMERICAINE

Many Americans were enraged earlier this year by French opposition to U.S. efforts to oust Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime. Wartime sentiment led to a slew of anti-French gestures, with "Freedom Fries" being substituted on many patriotic menus.

Now, many say it's time to let bygones be bygones. Some members of Congress have even formed a pro-French caucus to try to mend fences with our longtime allies.

But some Internet pranksters still hold a grudge. Try this:

Go to the Google search engine at www.google.com.

Type in the search terms "french military victories" (in that order, and watch your spelling).

Select the "I'm feeling lucky" search option.

The results? "Did you mean French military defeats"? Google asks.

Tres drole, as they say in Paris.

SOME WOMEN

One group of ladies feeling left out wants the National Organization for Women (NOW) to change its name to the National Organization for Some Women (NOSW).

"While NOW claims to speak for women, it received a black eye with mainstream women for its support of President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, despite NOW's long-held view of women as victims," says the Independent Women's Forum, which currently is upset because NOW refuses to support three women President Bush nominated for the federal bench.

FRIEND CAVIAR

The Russian Cultural Centre in Washington, an agency of the Russian government, opened its doors in December 1999 pursuant to a bilateral agreement signed by the United States and Russia providing for cultural centers in both countries.

One can read the charter, policy and mission of the RCC, which is stated in gold leaf on the mahogany walls of the center's Russian-American Room and on the bronze plaque at the building's entrance: "That Our Two Nations Never Again Polarize."

Given Russia is the caviar capital of the world, the RCC is educating of late on the history of the country's rebounding caviar industry. It's worth noting that until about 225 years ago, Russians considered eating roe somewhat vulgar. But that changed after Catherine the Great served it at a state dinner in 1778.

True Russian caviar comes from the sturgeon, a prehistoric fish with many relatives. The best Russian caviar, labeled "Malossol" (little salt), isn't salty; rather, its taste is described as a breath of clean ocean air.

The mythological lore of caviar, says the RCC, includes a self-important Washington politico who took his much younger office assistant to the old Mayflower Presidential Dining Room. To impress her, he asked the waiter:

"What is the most expensive item on the menu?"

"Caviar, sir."

"What is that?"

"Fish eggs, sir."

"Good, the lady and I will each have one, fried sunny side up."