There is something very American about the way we support our troops these days, have you noticed? Only in America would a national bowling organization send portable carpet bowling lane kits to military hospitals. Only in America do we find a way to send real Christmas trees to Iraq and Afghanistan.

On days when it seems like the American public is out of touch with the war and those serving, I tear up thinking about organizations like the Sock Monkey Ministries. The group sends a condolence card and a homemade sock monkey with an embroidered American flag on its chest to families who have lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Only in America, indeed.

Civilians and military members often live different realities, but the reality I try to focus on is the compassion, generosity and can-do attitude of the millions of Americans who support our troops. As the war lumbers on, Americans from across the country continue to lend their time, creativity, energy and resources to support servicemembers and their families in remarkable ways. Many of these people, “civilians” as we in the military community call them, have no family connection to the military. But there they are, sewing blankets for the wounded, donating phone cards and frequent flyer miles to the troops, and sending military kids who have lost a parent to camp.

Over the years, I’ve asked these patriots why they put their support into action. They tell me they simply want to serve those who serve, and consider it a privilege to do so.

“These are people who have said, ‘We’ve been blessed, let’s give back,’” Dave Coker, the president of Fisher House Foundation, once shared with me. Fisher House is a wonderful nonprofit organization that provides free lodging for families visiting their ill or combat-injured loved ones in the hospital.

If you feel like the public is out of touch with the war and those in uniform, I encourage you to visit www.americasupportsyou.mil, a Defense Department program that links people to nonprofit groups enthusiastically supporting our troops. The ingenuity and generosity of the American spirit is something quite extraordinary. I’ve learned to never underestimate the American public.

Only in America do customers donate their Girl Scout cookies to servicemembers overseas.

Only in America do folks spend their weekends building houses for disabled war veterans.

Only in America does one lucky servicemember find keys to a 2008 Jeep Liberty in his care package from a volunteer group.

Only in America does a women’s motorcycle club sponsor a toy drive and bike run to benefit children with a deployed parent.  

Only in America do we send our troops “just for fun” items such as Fruit Roll-Ups, Beanie Babies, Frisbees and Silly String.

Only in America do women sew clothes for newborns whose fathers are at war.   

Only in America would people care enough about the dental hygiene of Iraqi children to send a half million tooth brushes to Iraq.

Only in America do travelers donate their frequent flyer miles to assist family members in visiting their wounded loved ones in military hospitals.

Only in America do sewers stitch clothes and blankets for soldiers recovering in military hospitals.

Only in America do a bunch of school kids raise $600 from lemonade stand profits to support the troops.

Only in America do we plant memorial trees in memory of the fallen.

Only in America do people send letters, cards and prayers to servicemembers they do not know.

We in the military community are blessed even in these difficult times. From this Army wife, thank you, thank you, thank you.