This time-honored phrase has been used in the past to describe the sacrifices made by American soldiers, particularly in time of war. Never have the words been more applicable to the men and women serving proudly in the U.S. Armed Services today.

The degree of the service we routinely require of our military men and women was driven home to me on my recent trip to Iraq where I was embedded with the 18th MP Brigade and its subordinate units.

As I interviewed soldiers ranging in rank from brigadier general to private first class, I was struck by their universal dedication and commitment to mission, country, and most of all to each other.

It is well to remember that every one of these soldiers is a volunteer - many multiple volunteers: for the military police, for airborne, for air assault, for service in a combat zone. With few exceptions they are all on repeat combat tours.

In my interviews the rule of thumb quickly emerged: divide time in service by half and they have spent 50% - 60% of their time in a combat zone! These are astounding statistics. Add to that the fact that the majority have enlisted post-911. In other words, these soldiers volunteered to serve their country knowing full well that they were signing up for war.

Yet they answered the call then, and continue to show up for multiple deployments, the latest lasting for a grueling 15 months in-country. That they have undergone stress levels unimaginable for most civilians is obvious. What is less apparent is the personal degree of stress that they have endured - and continue to labor under - with regard to family separation, post-traumatic stress disorder, and re-adjustment to live in a non-combat environment when they return to the U.S.

Many organizations are performing great service to these soldiers and we have listed several here on this site. Most of these organizations focus on major issues such as helping wounded veterans, sending 'care packages' to deployed soldiers, and assisting survivor families.

Here we are asking you, the American public, to help those organizations, and in addition to perform small but memorable kindnesses to soldiers that you will encounter in your travels. The inspiration for this move was a letter to Dear Abby by the father of a soldier.

In his letter, A Grateful Dad, spoke of how touched and moved he was by an anonymous stranger who picked up the meal check for his son who was in transit in Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport waiting a flight that would eventually take him into harm's way in Iraq.

I and my friends were struck by how meaningful such a simple, almost casual act could be for the soldier and his family. Many veterans will remember the sense of loneliness, confusion, and dislocation that they had when travelling through strange places headed toward or from a place of constant threat of death. It would take only a word or two of appreciation, only a small act of concern, to lessen their stress.

So we are suggesting that all of us learn an important lesson from the action of the faceless stranger in the airport and repeat it ourselves. How easy it would be if we took a moment to offer a gesture of thanks to these men and women who risk life and limb in order to fight the fight that many of us are unwilling or unable to engage in ourselves.

Therefore, please seek out opportunities to offer an unsolicited 'thank you' to soldiers when you see them on the road. Pick up a meal check, buy them a drink, or, if you cannot afford that, just go over, introduce yourself and thank them for their service to our country.

It will make their day! And, when you do it, will make yours also!