This edition of small miracles is about seemingly disparate events, that took place at venues from Canada to Afghanistan, with a stop or two  in the US. These small miracles are kind of wrapped up in Old Glory and the courageous folks who represent her and us,  from "sea to shining sea," and environs foreign and often dangerous.

My mouth almost literally dropped open when I read the story of Lance Corporal Andrew Koenig in Afghanistan. There was a story in the Wall Street Journal,  http://tiny.cc/lLrd4 , about how Lance Cpl. Koenig was shot almost between the eyes. His helmet stopped the bullet. He stated that he didn't think that he "could be luckier than this." I consider it a small miracle. If the bullet had ricocheted off the helmet and hit the shooter between the eyes, I would have considered that a "ricochet miracle!"

Seth Wescott was involved in a far more genteel "war," although snowboarding can be pretty dangerous. The LA Times' Bill Plaschke,  http://tiny.cc/JsQ9q , described how Seth "draped himself" in the American Flag, the particular Flag that has been in his family for generations. The following  paragraph painted a very vivid scene for me, as I had not seen the televised race.

"Imagine dozens of Canadian flags being flapped by the roaring crowd at the finish line in anticipation of a local gold. Imagine them all suddenly stopping, dwarfed by the thick whip-whip-whip of Wescott's giant Stars and Stripes."

Seth's achievement in getting that gold medal was truly impressive. "Priceless," is the story of the family's patriotism and reverence for Old Glory. Their reverence shined through, as bright as did that gold medal!

A man can leave the service, but it is almost impossible to take the service out of the man. The following small miracles are about two men who are no longer active duty, but who were able to activate the skills learned while they were protecting us.

Chris Scott,  http://tiny.cc/eGz2B ,  saved the life of his own son, while he was in training to be a 911 operator. He, of course downplayed his role. He stated that "it's in his nature to remain calm under stress." I would like to think that same calmness that served him well as a tank crew member when he was deployed in Iraq took over, when possibly someone else would have been "freaking out" as his wife said that she was. I  would have skidded past "freaking" out,  and gone to completely freaked out. The article ended by stating that "His employers gave him the rest of the day off." I would have needed at least a week to recuperate. I will be truthful and admit that I am not made of  "sterner stuff."

Yet another Iraq war Vet, Robin, De Haven,  displayed the bravery and sterner stuff that we take for granted. In this story, http://tiny.cc/IBMWQ , he rescued five persons from the building into which  Joseph Stack, allegedly disgruntled with the IRS, attempted to take his revenge. Mr. Stack's apparent plan was to pilot his plane and "take out,"  IRS employees who work in that building. Mr. De Haven calmly placed his ladder alongside the building and did his thing. He "wanted to go help," and, thinking that his boss "would understand,"  he did just that. How many of us would have put concerns about the boss not understanding, and stopped to weigh in the balance "loss of job" versus stopping to help.  Thankfully,  in this circumstance, Mr. De Haven was not the only good Samaritan.

Stories such as these, reinforce for me, no matter how some misguided souls try to disparage the citizens of this country, what it means to be an American. An economic pundit described the US as "an oversized Third World nation." He could be proven to be correct, if we keep spending and borrowing, without ceasing. For now, he is correct in his use of the word "oversized." The US has an oversized heart for helping whoever, whenever and wherever. May that never cease.

God bless America!