On Veterans Day a year ago, the thought of beginning a war with Iraq was on the mind of many Americans. It wasn't a concrete reality - it was just a thought that came attached with numerous questions and even more open-ended arguments.

Last year, the country was threatening Saddam Hussein with timelines and warfare.

Now, we don't even know where he is and the costs of the war are being measured by the number of American lives lost and the $87.5 billion bill Congress racked up.

The war officially is over, and all we are left with are the consequences which at one time were unforeseen.

U.S. troops continued to fight for our freedom while President Bush signed yet another piece of legislative paper and the country remembered its veterans.

On Tuesday, Bush signed the Fallen Patriots Tax Relief Act, which doubled the death gratuity payment given to the families of fallen soldiers. The $6,000 price tag now is $12,000.

It's hard to put a price on a loved one dying, but apparently Bush believes that $12,000 should be sufficient.

Having $6,000 more might seem better, but to the hundreds of families receiving these checks, that doesn't compensate for the loss of those close to them.

Bush also has signed the National Cemetery Expansion Act to help establish new national cemeteries for deceased veterans. An act such as this only physically demonstrates the aggressiveness of our country as it tries to fix problems around the world.

With the death toll peaking at almost 390 in Iraq, it doesn't look like that combativeness will stop anytime soon.

Last year, Veterans Day remembered those fallen from wars fought when we were kids.

The veterans of today, our brothers, sisters, boyfriends and girlfriends, are now placed alongside our great-grandfathers and great-uncles.