A missed story...

San Antonio Express-News (Cary Clark) It's hard to lose sight of an imposing four-story structure of 60,000 square feet that's in your midst and will be responsible for the rebuilding of lives, but a few people allowed that to happen to them.

Last week's release of a list of some of the dignitaries and celebrities who would be attending Monday's dedication of the Center for the Intrepid and two new Fisher Houses upset some because of the inclusion of Rosie O'Donnell. The names of Denzel Washington, John Mellencamp, Don Imus, senators John McCain and Hillary Clinton may have titillated, but it was that of the outspoken and opinionated comedian and talk-show host that ignited sparks.

In explaining why O'Donnell didn't belong, people cited her politics, her stance against the war in Iraq, her criticism of President Bush, and her marriage to another woman and their adoption of children.

All of which had nothing to do with the purpose of Monday's dedication of the largest and most expensive privately funded facility for wounded war veterans.

There are stronger arguments for why the American government should have funded the Center for the Intrepid than why it didn't.

Any government that asks men and women to fight for it should do everything within its power to care for them when they return home, especially if they're returning with injuries. The opening of the center is a testament to the concern of the American people for the wounded.

The center isn't about politics or ideology or where one stood on this war. More than 600,000 people contributed to its construction and they span the political spectrum. Say what you will about O'Donnell, but she gave $300,000 of her money. Don Imus, the nationally syndicated talk-show host, has expressed reservations about the war since before it started but not only did he make a considerable donation but did as much as any person to publicize the center and raise money for it.

One other thing the center illustrates is how much we've grown as a nation over the past 30 years. During and after the Vietnam War era, such a center as this, built exclusively with private funds, would have been unimaginable. The divide over that war was too deep, hostile and fraught with distrust and suspicion to ask for so much money from so many people for a similar center that was just as vitally needed then as now.

Since then, we've learned how to oppose a war without opposing and disrespecting our troops and that to care for them and help them make the transition back to their pre-war lives as best as possible isn't Republican or Democrat, it's not conservative or liberal, it's not pro-war or anti-war, it's not even about being an American. It's about being humane.

The Center for the Intrepid gives us the opportunity to be more humane to the soldiers coming home. Monday's ceremonies weren't about Rosie or Imus or Denzel or the next possible president of the United States. It was about the men and women who will be requiring the center's services.

In Monday's story by Express-News reporters Scott Huddleston and Sig Christenson, there was this paragraph:

"Aside from $250,000 donated by USAA and $100,000 from Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union, San Antonians gave little for the center, (president of the Fallen Heroes Fund, Bill) White said."

That should sting everyone here, including me, who didn't contribute a dime to its building. But when all of the dignitaries and celebrities have left our city, the Center for the Intrepid will remain.

And so will our checkbooks, our time, and anything else we can offer. To quote Mr. Mellencamp, "ain't that America?"