We Are Americans (DAR Short Story Contest Entry)

Hi! So, I thought I'd post my DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) contest entry here... it's a short story.

And I just found out today that it won 1st place in my STATE, DIVISION, and in the NATION oh my gods I am so flipping happy :D

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Smoke clouded the air. I staggered through the rubble of a lonely town, coughing, my eyes watering; whether it was from the smoke or despair I didn't know. I stumbled over something on the ground. I looked down at it, and my heart leapt to my throat. Not something. Someone.

I crouched beside the soldier, my fingers feeling desperately for a pulse. Nothing. Then I tensed. Did I dare believe it? Yes-it was true. There was a faint, irregular beating of a heart.

Suddenly, the man's eyes fluttered open. They darted around in confusion before focusing on me.

"Am I dead?"

His question took me by surprise. "No," I said softly. He looked around again. "Almost?" His voice was hoarse and rasping. I hesitated. Then I looked at his bloody body; listened to the irregular beat of his heart.

"Yes." My voice was scarcely louder than a whisper, but somehow, the man heard. He drew a rattling breath.

"Tell them."

I leaned closer. "Who?"

The man took another painful breath. I could hear his broken ribs inside of him. "Everyone," he whispered.

"And?" I prompted him, my voice gentle. "What should I tell them?" He leaned toward me, gasping with the effort. "Tell them..." his voice broke. His next words were no more than a breath. "Tell them that all the deaths-they won't be in vain-" He broke off in a coughing fit. He struggled to continue; his last words were a whoosh of air. "We'll win. We're-we're Americans."

The man closed his eyes, and his head fell back. He drew one last shaky breath before his chest stilled.

I shut my eyes and said a prayer.

Please, Lord, let him be happy in Heaven. Protect him, and the others. Fulfill our wish-let us be Americans.

Amen.

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I actually wrote this two years ago, and when the contest came up, I thought, why not? and submitted this old thing. 

Thoughts?