The following is a letter that was handed to myself and my buddy Bob, who was my Sgt. in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, at a spectacular Appreciation Dinner I attended this evening while visiting the High Desert in California. This  16th Annual event was at Serrano High School near Apple Valley, California and was attended by some 800 veterans from surrounding communities.  The children from the High School and Quail Valley Middle School were the volunteer hosts for the evening. These kids made us feel like we were dining at a Five Star restaurant.  The respect and courtesy that filled up the gymnasium was enough to cause these two ole combat Marines to tear up.

When the kids circulated among the veterans to get our autographs I just about lost it.  I was transported back in time, wondering what it would have been like for tens of thousands of us to have been welcomed and appreciated like this.

The following is the letter from Hannah, a student at Quail Valley Middle School  in Phelan, California.  Imagine for a moment that she wrote this in 1968.

Dear Hero.

I so appreciate you for fighting for us. I know that freedom is not free. I thank you for going away from your family and fighting for us.  It must have been hard when you had to go away and leave your your home and family. Since you did we are able to sleep peacefully at night and not worry about all the terrible things going on in the world. I am so thankful that you made it back to your family and that I am able to meet you today. You’re a true hero for sacrificing part of your like to keep America free. We owe you so much more every day for this is what our country is all about. I am proud to live in a country with so many brave people.

Sincerely, Hannah

God bless you Hannah. We sleep better too with that brand of respect.