Patriotic

I was at the Denver airport taking the little tram to the gate and there was a young soldier in fatigues and a huge backpack on his shoulders. A man standing nearby asked him, "Are you coming or going?" and he said "Going back to Kuwait." And they continued the chit-chat. The man said "Well, it must be scorching hot there right now!" And the soldier nodded politely. Then the tram pulled up to the terminal. An older woman standing right next to us reached out her hand and gently held the soldier's arm and said, "Thank you...be safe." The way she said it was so moving, I couldn't help but feel completely patriotic and grateful to this young soldier. He then replied, "Just doin' my job." It's so strange to think that these young boys in their early 20s are defending the country and protecting our rights while we just go our merry ways.