Thomas Foley: “the ``Orange Register'' in California every week recognizes a writer who eloquently expresses a viewpoint or engenders a…”

“the ``Orange Register'' in California every week recognizes a writer who eloquently expresses a viewpoint or engenders a debate on a topic of public interest. It is known as the Golden Pen Award. The title of this letter to the editor of the ``Orange Register,'' written by Ann Baker, a real estate agent of Huntington Beach, California, is ``A Young Marine Restores My Faith.'' ``It was our normal Thursday morning business meeting at our real estate office. No big deal. Before the meeting, we hung around the bagel table, as usual, with our coffee. He stood aside, looking a little shy and awkward and very young, a new face in the room full of extroverted salespeople. An average looking guy, maybe 5 foot 8 inches. A clean-cut, sweet-faced kid. I went over to chat with him. Maybe he was a new salesman? ``He said he was just back from Kabul, Afghanistan. A Marine. Our office (and a local school) had been supportive by sending letters to him and other troops, which he had posted at the American Embassy door in Kabul. He stood guard there for 4 months and was shot at daily. ``He had come to our office to thank us for the support, for all the letters during those scary times. I couldn't believe my ears,'' she said. ``He wanted to thank us? We should be thanking him. But how? How can I ever show him my appreciation? ``At the end of the sales meeting he stepped quietly forward, no incredible hulk. As a matter of fact, he looked all the world 15 years old to me.…”