In The Pipeline:

“Don’t include me in the picture. This isn’t about me — it’s about them.” Though I insist and she finally relents and poses in front of the mirror, she is uncomfortable being the object of attention. “Not me,” she reiterates. “Them,” she says, pointing toward the mirror.

That tells you what you need to know about Denise Burelli, who, with her husband, Anthony, runs the Beauty Supply Zone & Salon near the intersection of Bolsa Chica Street and Heil Avenue — because “them” would be the dozens of images of men and women serving in the United State military that are taped to the mirror in the salon, creating a makeshift shrine honoring those who serve this nation. There are also American flags, statues, figurines and a red, white and blue banner that reads simply, “Freedom.”

Inspired several years ago by a Marine Corps fundraiser, Denise staged a “cut-a-thon” at their shop, donating all proceeds from a day of haircuts to the Marines. After that event, something dawned on Denise Burelli.

“I started feeling that today, many of us had started to take for granted the sacrifices made by the men and women in our armed forces,” she said. “We take for granted the freedom and liberty they fight to defend and protect, and we forget that our country is at war — so I just wanted to think of ways to remind people of how important it is to always thank our troops when you see them, to let them know personally how much we appreciate and honor them.”

Anthony Burelli, a Marine who served in Vietnam, smiles proudly at his energetic, dynamic wife from across the room. But he’ll say little else except, “This is all her. This is all Denise, and she is amazing.”

He’s referring to Denise Burelli’s efforts since that first fundraiser: a series of cut-a-thons that have benefited the charity Anysoldier.com. Donations to Anysoldier.com allow the Burellis and others to buy and ship items requested by military personnel — basic supplies like sunscreen, pens or beef jerky.

“It’s the little things they need,” she says. “And Anysoldier.com is a great organization that make it easy for us to help provide for them.”

Two weeks ago, when Denise Burelli saw a major and two sergeants in uniform approaching her salon, she got excited.

“I just ran over to thank them,” she bubbles.

What happened next will never be forgotten.

“They presented me with a flag for what we’ve done here,” Denise Burelli says. “A flag that flew in Iraq. The men who presented it to me were actually there when it flew. I was stunned. I could not stop crying.”

Denise Burelli acknowledges Peggy Kane, another local woman active in troop appreciation and who works with Anysoldier.com, for arranging the honor. The flag is in front of the mirror, surrounded by photos of men and women in uniform.

“Look at this photo of Bobby Fresenius,” Denise Burelli says, directing my eyes to a fresh-faced kid in boot camp in the Marine Corps. “Then here he is after his first tour. And in this third picture, after his second tour.”

Over the course of the three photos of Fresenius, the fresh-faced kid has become a man. He has become a soldier.

“How can anyone not thank and reach out to Americans like this?” Denise Burelli asks. “You cannot do enough for them. We as a country, and especially as a community, can always be doing more.”

That’s why all military personnel are never charged at the salon. That’s why their family members get a 50% discount. And that’s why from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 the third cut-a-thon to benefit American soldiers will be at the Beauty Supply Zone.

“Haircuts will be just $20,” Denise Burelli says. “And every penny will go to Anysoldier.com. It will be a fun, patriotic event like the others. Giveaways, music, flags and soldiers in uniform — even if you don’t need a haircut, just stop by to thank a soldier and shake their hand. What’s better than that?”

I will be donating a free, signed copy of my book “Roadside Baseball” for every haircut.

It is all but impossible not to get caught up in Denise Burelli’s message. “Support the Troops” is a convenient bumper-sticker slogan that, while well-intentioned, means nothing if we as citizens don’t deliver on the ground.

One of my family’s thrills is seeing soldiers in airports (or anywhere) when we travel and treating them to a meal to say thanks. More often, these modest men and women will say it’s not necessary — but it is.

Whatever any of us can do is necessary, and Denise Burelli’s campaign is a glorious display of pride, energy and old-fashioned, red-white-and-blue love of country. Regardless of one’s political views about current and future battlefields, this is the world we live in, and these are the men and women who are out there while we work, play and sleep, protecting us and the rest of the free world.

So please do not miss this. Come thank them. Come support them. And if you need it, come get a haircut for them. Because as Denise Burelli will rightfully tell you, it isn’t about us — it’s about them.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 14 books, including the new “Huntington Beach Then & Now.” You can write him at chris@chrisepting.com .