'Perfect' students meet special guest

TAMPA -- Of course the 10-year-old girl knew who the woman standing behind her was. And she certainly knew who the woman was married to -- one of the most important military leaders in America.

"He's the general of all armies," said Britney Ross, as reporters encircled her with microphones and cameras.

"He's helping to find (Osama) bin Laden," the fourth-grader explained. "Once Sept. 11 happened, I really thought about people like him and her."

Many people may not know Cathy Franks, but the children at Seminole Heights Elementary do.

They've written her and her husband letters of thanks. They say she's proud, good, smart and "dressed like a general's wife," according to George Ramdawah, 10. "Neatly."

"She's cool," said Shantelle Hwass, a pony-tailed third grader.

On Friday, Mrs. Franks, wife of U.S. Central Command Gen. Tommy Franks, visited the north Tampa school to recognize children with perfect attendance. She led the Pledge of Allegiance and explained military uniforms to a room full of third-, fourth- and fifth-graders.

With her husband's role as commander of the war in Afghanistan, Mrs. Franks has found herself in the public spotlight more and more.

Did she ever imagine herself in such a high-profile position?

"No, not all," she said. "None of us realized what America would be like."

Some of the children, like Zakar Nathaniel, got to walk across the stage and shake Mrs. Franks' hand.

"I think it was nice of General Franks' wife to come to our school," he said later.

As part of the ceremony, Mrs. Franks drew Britney's name as the winner of a new Roadmaster 15-speed bike for perfect attendance. She said she was uplifted by the girl's sensitivity to the war and dedication to coming to school.

"The first thing that goes through my mind is this is what America is all about," said the former teacher. "This is the America of the future. This is what we're fighting for."

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