Finding herself on the receiving end of the wrath of both sides, she's obviously reluctant to speak out on the issue.

"I'm not educated enough about what's happening there to comment," she says.

What she does believe in is her son, James Higgins. She's adopted and extended his vision for a national memorial for those who've died in over 30 conflicts since 1975.

James, 22, was killed just days before he was scheduled to come home from Iraq in July 2006. In his last phone call home, he outlined in great detail his dream of a national memorial.

Since then, his mom has been on a one-woman crusade to honor his memory and his plea not to forget his comrades in arms. Next month marks a year since she incorporated the Lance Corporal James W. Higgins Jr. Fallen Heroes Fund.

Her project has taken her all over the country to rally people to her cause, to convince them to open their minds, hearts and wallets.

It's been an arduous journey.

Resthaven Memorial Gardens has donated the land and money to obtain needed permits. She held a bike rally and raffle this summer. Her story was featured on the CBS news and she met with movers and shakers in D.C., including Sen. Barbara Mikulski. One of her son's fellow Marines met with presidential candidate Fred Thompson to garner his support.

Despite her efforts, she's spent more of her own money than she's raised to build a $60 million national memorial in Frederick County.

Naysayers say her project is foolhardy, mistimed and ill-conceived.

"People tell me I'm an idiot," she says.

Anti-war protesters have screamed in her face. Yet others have told her that a memorial built during the war, one where the names of the dead are still being tallied, could bring more pressure to bear on the powers that be -- a constant reminder of the true cost of a war the public clearly told its leaders in 2006 it can no longer tolerate.

Older veterans have told her it's too soon. Maybe. Americans have mostly avoided movies about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Perhaps they prefer to face it from the distance of time, safe in the knowledge that it's all over.

Debbie wonders why the families of those who've died for their country since Vietnam must wait decades for their sacrifice to be nationally recognized.

They've died, she says, for the ideals that their parents and their government instilled in them. They believed they were answering the call to duty and they went. Their sacrifices deserve recognition now, not 50 years from now.

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, the only elected official to attend her son's funeral, told her that the public will not support a national memorial outside of Washington.

James' mom doesn't buy that argument, pointing out that visitors regularly travel from D.C. to Gettysburg and other historic sites, including those in Frederick County. She's circulating petitions of support from people she's met on her own travels.

Despite the controversy, she's received plenty of signatures and well wishes. But it's not enough. People tell her that Americans are strapped financially these days. Yet, they spend millions each weekend at the movies and the malls, so Debbie can't figure out why they can't slip a few dollars in an envelope to help her cause.

Her passion and persistence is inspiring, but she needs help. To contact her, e-mail: dsh041265@comcast.net, or call 240-674-5223. To donate, send tax deductible contributions to LCpl James W. Higgins Jr. Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund Inc to P.O. Box 236, Thurmont, MD 21788.

kheerbrandt@yahoo.com