Sacrifice

Sacrifice was a recurring theme in President Bush's Tuesday night address to the nation from Fort Bragg.

These are the sacrifices American troops have made in Iraq as of Friday, July 1, 2005:

1,744 killed

12,855 wounded

So this Independence Day weekend, it might be interesting to find out what sacrifices we're making on the homefront. Leave out "praying for the troops" or slapping a yellow ribbon on your SUV, or going to a benefit concert. We're talking about actual sacrifice -- something you have given up, something you've changed in your life.

Have you given up a gas guzzling SUV? The Pentagon is the largest single energy consumer in the world. They use enough gasoline every day to drive an average car around the world 13,000 times. Cutting your gasoline use should help drive down gas prices, freeing up Defense dollars that can be spent on something else: body armor, health benefits for troops & their families, child care for families of deployed service members.

Maybe you took a $15,000 - $20,000 a year pay cut to take a job that directly benefits troops in the field, or to "free a man to fight." Some people have.

Have you helped neighbors with food or child care while a parent was deployed?

Want a way to help? You can contribute to commissary gift certificates for service members and their families. Some Reservists and National Guardsmen are sacrificing huge incomes to serve in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Or help out service members kids with a donation to a military scholarship fund.

Post your personal sacrifices in the comment section. (Watching Washington Commentary)