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'.
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 who protect her.
And maybe, just maybe, the two women who
were rallying against our country, would
pause for a minute to appreciate all the
freedom America offers, and the price it
pays to maintain it's freedom.
As for me, I have learned that one
voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next
time protesters gather outside the gates of
the base where I live, I will proudly stand
on the opposite side with a sign of my own.
It will simply say, "Thank You!"
To those who fought for our Nation:
Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
