Celebrate soldiers and their families

The soldiers serving their country are, without a doubt, heroes.

Yet, there is another group of heroes — who often don't get the recognition. In fact, they go out of their way to give support, recognition and kudos to the soldiers.

Some are parents of servicemen and women, some served in the military themselves and others just want to say thanks. My parents belong to such a group — American Citizens Encouraging Support — and regularly head off to the airport or some restaurant in the Tri-Cities to welcome a soldier home or send them off. (One soldier and his family even drove down from Spokane because they'd heard about the group and wanted him to have an "extra-special" welcome home.)

Flags are everywhere, buttons with soldiers' pictures decorate lapels and coats and yellow and flag-themed magnetic ribbons decorate their cars. Each soldier is given a football signed with everyone's names as well as a container of decorated sugar cookies.

Tears are in abundance as well, most coming from those honoring the soldiers as they sing the national anthem or Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A."

It's hard not to get choked up — regardless of how you feel about the fighting in Iraq and elsewhere — watching the soldiers and their families as they take in several dozen people who put their lives on hold for a half-hour or more just to let them know, "Hey, you're not alone. We care, too."

And it's not just in the Tri-Cities where folks like this can be found. They are found in abundance throughout Bonner and Boundary counties. Just look at the couple dozen folks who turned out on a chilly, snowy night a month or so ago when Justin Lamb came home for a visit.

Packages are sent to soldiers from the region and there are prayers for the soldiers' safe return home.

At the Bee, we want to do our part to let the soldiers and their families know they're not alone — we plan to run the names of those serving from the region at the top of the page, along with their rank, branch of service and where they are serving.

If you know of someone in the military, please send us the information so we can give them a well-deserved kudos.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.