I stand here looking out the window at a massive flag that's half staff, I see cars on the street have taped upon their back window the local newspapers picture of the US flag.

Children are carrying a flag, in still very hot sun, on the street corner and are performing car washes and giving the proceeds to relief efforts. The same event is mirrored on an intersection one block over. Horns honk incessantly and the children must've washed more cars today than I can count. Their backs and arms must be terribly sore and their skin is absoutely beet red.

They do their part in dealing with what has happened.

The comradery felt by folks with their flags up or taped on - or in some cases painted on with grease pen - is tangible, palpable and humanizing.

The homespun red, white and blue ribbons have been tied together and trail from a car antenna.

People realize that we support each other and that we have enemies who seek to undermine our nation, our beliefs and our way of life.

Somewhere a child will go to bed with awful sunburns - in pain - yet they will be comforted by the fact that they contributed their bit to helping other Americans...and are proud to be an American.

These are patriots. Perhaps not as glorious or glamorous as Paul Revere or John Hancock - but they are patriots nonetheless.

This nation is filled with patriots this evening, and I appreciate the efforts and thoughts of each and every one of them - however large or small.

It is these folks who help make the embarking soldier stand a bit taller, prouder and serve more gallantly.

It is for these folks and all other Americans that the decision makers plan America's course... and they plan carefully, intelligently and without prejudice...

..so that same sunburned child will grow up in an US that preserves freedom, insures security and affords a greater quality of life for decades to come.

SDAI-Tech1