This is the first email from the soldier who recieved my knife.
"Dear Mr. Gossman,
I cannot even begin to thank you enough for the knife you have sent. I was the individual lucky enough to claim your exquisite knife as my own. You have done amazing work with this particular knife and I cannot even begin to appreciate the time that it took to complete such a quaility knife. However other then my appreciation for your unbelieveable gesture, I also want to thank you for your support. Not only for the support of myself and fellow soldier, but for the unwavering support for our country. It is delightfully comforting to know that there still exsit true Americans like you, individuals that will stand up for a cause that is just and are also willing to sacrifice with those who are sent out to fight. It is an absolute blessing to know that there exsit true patriots like yourself, who believe in the cause for which we fight.
At times, it feels our country has lost appreciation for the freedoms that our father and grandfathers have sacrificed and died for. It seems that, although 4 years ago, our country has already forgotten that indescribable feeling we felt in our soul as our brothers and sisters were taken from us on that fateful September day. However, your selfless gesture brings to reality that there still remain Americans that do remember and refuse to forget. I cannot begin to explain how touched I am by your kindness and how relieved I am to know that there are citizens although not here fighting with us, are still just as much in this war as any of us. Our country has a beautiful flame that will not be extingished and, although at times may appear to be dim, it still burns because of courageous citizens like yourself who refuse to let it burn out in the night. It is the American citizen like you, that I proudly call myself an American Soldier and willingly sacrifice my life, if necessary, to ensure the safety of this wonderful country that we call home."
name withheld
This my friends is what being an American is all about. I was almost moved to tears after reading this the first time.
Scott