Day before yesterday my 2nd oldest daughter (who is almost 14) fell at a soccer game and broke her collar bone. We went to the ER, and she was in VERY much pain, breathing rapidly, which I was advising her to slow down......

Well, there was a "soldier" (not sure of rank) who was there with his wife, waiting in front of us. So he came over and knelt down to look Jannelle in the eye- and said- "Let me help you Darlin' ". And HE managed to calm her down and make a "sling" out of a sweatshirt to help keep her comfortable.

After he returned to his seat, I told him thank you for ALL he does- and he just smiled sweetly and said- "No problem! It is my pleasure. I find it all comes around in the end anyway...."

We made a little small talk about soccer, and unfortunately I was so worried about Jannelle I forgot to mention AS , but I was so impressed at how he came over and did what needed to be done to help her out.....I LOVE our soldiers!!!!!!

 Wow, and to think this happened in California!  What I mean is, back East has more of a population of military compared to the middle to northern part of our state. Usually when you hear news coming out of California concerning our military, it usually concerns a group like Code Pink who this past week decided to use witchcraft and picket once again outside the Berkeley Marine Recruiting Station.    Why in my state, I ask?  Why in the US ? is a better question.  

That was so neat that he cared enough to try to comfort your daughter.  God bless him.  I hope your daughter heals quickly. 

I can tell you a couple more California stories!  In Los Angeles and Orange Counties, we have www.thesoldiersproject.org, which offers free counseling by licensed mental health professionals, to any military service member/vet who has served in the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan. And we offer free counseling to any of their loved ones - boyfriends, girlfriends, spouses, children, parents, grandparents - while they are deployed and when they come back. We are all licensed mental health professionals, and we offer therapy in our offices (private) and we offer an unlimited number of sessions with no red tape. We educate our therapists and offer monthly support groups for the therapists, so they do not burn out. This model has spread to NW Washington State, Chicago and NYC. This is all done by volunteers, including me. We are having a conference next weekend, May 16-18, "Hidden Wounds of War: Pathways to Healing," where we hope to educate more therapists, including some from out of state, who may go back and start their own groups.

In northern California, there is also a group called something like The Coming Home Project, which also offers counseling to military and vets.

Did not mean to "hijack" your comment. Hope your daughter is feeling better. It is awful to see your child in pain. Glad the Soldier helped her. I have met one of my "adopted" Soldiers face to face, and one of my friend's, as well. Both great guys.

Can't help myself - I must reply to Barbara. Kudos to you and all of those volunteers.  If only these stories would make their way to the news media.