I explained that I had served as an Army nurse before returning to civilian life and spending thirty-one years caring for children at Burt Elementary School. The photograph had been taken during my service with the medical unit represented by the blue heron. I remembered the soldiers in that picture, the long nights, and the people who had trusted us with their lives. Some had returned home. Others hadn\u2019t. The memorial wall had been created to ensure their names would never be forgotten. Reese stared at the photograph, then looked at the emblem on his own shoulder. His two friends were no longer laughing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMa\u2019am, I didn\u2019t know,\u201d he finally said. I looked at him and replied, \u201cThat\u2019s the problem, Sergeant. You didn\u2019t know, and you didn\u2019t care enough to ask.\u201d He apologized, but I wasn\u2019t interested in hearing a quick excuse simply because he\u2019d discovered my history. I told him that respect shouldn\u2019t depend on someone\u2019s rank, age, or achievements. The young private approached my table and quietly apologized for not speaking up earlier. I smiled at her. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be the loudest person in the room to do the right thing,\u201d I told her. Reese lowered his head, and for the first time since approaching me, he had nothing to say.<\/p>\n
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