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Monday's story about Hugs for Our Soldiers was punctuated with heartwarming quotes from Heritage Middle School students.

Hugs for Our Soldiers is a volunteer nonprofit organization that supports U.S. troops by sending care packages and cards to our men and women in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan. Students from Alcoa Middle and Carpenters Middle schools also prepared hundreds of cards and care packages.

During the event at Heritage Middle, students had an opportunity to express their respect for troops who put their lives on the line every day for the rest of us.

Special guests were in attendance: three soldiers stationed with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga. All have served in Iraq.

There was one quote, words not spoken by a student, that were chilling. The comment was meant to underline the soldiers' appreciation, and it did -- perhaps more than the soldiers knew.

"Most troops don't receive letters and treats from their family and friends."

That revelation, coming from Spc. Joalice Andino-Valles, was telling and sobering.

Our troops at war, including members of the National Guard and Reserves, serve because they volunteered. They stood up when called to fight for their country when others chose comfort and safety.

To hear that most of our troops don't routinely learn of how they are appreciated on the home front is disheartening.

Could it be that because that we are so isolated from the impact -- there is no draft, the tax bill will be paid for by future generations -- that we find these wars to be mere conflicts of inconvenience?

Could it be that we have allowed talking heads -- screaming heads at times -- to diminish the sacrifice of sweat and blood into talking points stuffed between commercials? Who can hear the sound of a heartbeat through the noise of ego gratification?

Or, could it be that a simple gesture of human gratitude is worth more to isolated troops stationed in a harsh, faraway land than all the words spoken in marbled halls in search of a sound bite suitable for the next election cycle?

In the face of relentless, self-serving pontification, is a single act of kindness pointless?

Thank goodness for simple concern. Thank goodness for unconditional appreciation. Thank goodness for youth.

If it takes our young people to remind us of what we have and why it is important -- so be it.