A special thank-you to...

Dien--

I actually live in Boston and am on State Street several times a week.

No matter how busy I am, as I'm walking, my eyes always seem to land on the balcony on the Old State House. It was from this balcony that the Declaration of Independence was first read to the citizens of Boston about two weeks after it was signed.

The little old building is now dwarfed by skyscrapers, but its fully restored beauty is a daily reminder of that struggle for freedom so long ago.

There is actually a local actor who dresses as Ben Franklin and leads tour groups all around the Freedom Trail. One day I was riding the T (subway) and ended up sitting next to "Ben", heading home in full garb.

A man began harrassing the poor guy, asking him all sorts of questions about the Founding Fathers, attempting to paint a negative picture of them as greedy invaders.

Tensions built and "Ben" was handling it well, but I was working up the nerve to say something to help him. I was beginning to sweat because I was scared this guy might pull out a grenade or something (this was 2 weeks after Sept.11).

I took a deep breath, but a voice from the other side of the train boomed: "I fought for this country in Vietnam and if you don't like it you can leave!" I looked and saw unwavering eyes locked in a fierce stare that could have cut stone.

Needless to say, the guy immediately clammed up and got off at the next stop. There was a visible collective sigh of relief after that.

Patriotism lives.