streets in which our children played. and the reason that we could have that confidence is because people were willing to serve this country. by nothing more than the grace of god, my birthday fell just a few months after the draft ended. and so when the draft ended, a few months before my 18th birthday, my vigil of watching those numbers every year ended. and by that time, with the military being drawn down, even being an rotc in college didn't mean a lot because they weren't looking for people, certainly not like me. and the fact is, i have always felt that but for a few months' difference, it could have been me. i sometimes think it should have been me. but i ask the question.