[CHARLITE]

I'm happy to share this email message which I received just now from Steve Gardner in South Carolina. I sent Steve this stirring column by Greg Moore, last night, and this is Steve's response:

"It would be too much to ask of our media to print this homecoming address. I realize this even as I ask myself why would our media, who are supposed to be giving us the information that we desire, would shy away from such an insightful message is beyond my comprehension but we all know why. Now we need to figure out how to keep them from continuing to short change our public.

Sorry Char just couldn’t stop myself from venting a little.

[Last Dakotan]

Only tears come...

[CHARLITE]

Americans should be reminded of Steve Gardner and his valuable contribution to the success of George W. Bush's defeat of John False Kerry. America should not simply go back to "business as usual," without reflecting, from time to time, about Steve's amazing courage during 2004, and what it cost him and his family - personally.

Char

[teenyelliott]

Thanks for making me cry on my keyboard.

That is so wonderful and happy and sad and heart wrenching and meaningful and humbling. I am always so proud of our troops, but never more than when I hear or read their own words. What amazing heroes.

I hope I can always have this man's words in my heart, to remind me daily how fortunate I am to live in this country and to have men like Greg Moore standing guard over my family.

[Just another Joe]

Thank the sergeant for his service.
I know, to a degree, how he feels.
My eldest daughter was 4 months old before I ever laid eyes on her in person.
Once you've 'seen the elephant' life's priorities tend to change.

[repubmom]

Please don't forget the "Tissue Alert!" next time! :-) So glad another soldier is home safe and sound...

[Carolinamom]

Thank you for posting this wonderful message from the heart. All of us should be as thankful as he is that we live America.

[armymarinemom]

I love homecoming stories!!

[Tennessee_Bob]

Dang - tears here at work - I remember when dad came home from Vietnam - we were at the Memphis airport, I was four years old and when mom pointed out the jet bringing him in, I was yelling "My daddy's on that plane, my daddy's on that plane!" We still have the old, yellowed article from the Memphis paper of him holding us both in his arms.

[pikachu]

Thank you for posting this message. It is quite stunning.

[SMARTY]

It reminds me of the time my friend's brother came home from Korea. We were in grade school. There was a knock at the door and the teacher opened the door, slightly. I still remember him standing in the small space you could see out into the hall, in his uniform. My friend looked up from her paper and didn't need to see the door open all the way. She was across the room like a bolt and in his arms before anyone knew what happened. I was happy for her.