I get to enjoy reading my choice of
material, preaching the text that I choose, drinking the soft of my preference
and so many other easily taken for granted privileges because there are folk
who put on a uniform and surrender their own personal day-to day freedoms.
Many of us live relatively privileged lives
in large part because of the value created on the backs of those who take the
orders rather than give the orders.
And while that sentiment
applies broadly in our society to waitresses, janitors, factory workers, and
others who are in a position to take orders, it makes its most fundamental
manifestation in the soldier, the seaman, the airman!
I often begin funeral tributes with the following
words because I believe that to honor the person who has died is to honor God
who created that person.
Psalm 139: 13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I
praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My
frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the
earth.
16 Your
eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your
book
before one of them came to be.
And so, as I honor those who have served in the
military, accept that as honor to God as well.
It was Jesus himself who modeled for us the service
of sacrifice.
To the families of military folk who have passed,
I say “Thank You!”
I really, really, really enjoy that First Amendment
which your family member protected for me!
Again, I enjoy so much in life because of that
person in your family!
Also, many of you who know me know that I am quite
the Beatles fan. But also, allow me to sympathize with Colonel Frederick Wagg
who is mostly remembered in Beatles communities for “ sending back all the decorations he
picked up from service in both world wars to the queen herself in protest
against the Beatles’MBE “( see link at bottom).
I would hate for that fellow who served so
sacrificially to be remembered only as an angry man in protest of Beatles.
I say, let us remember this fellow as someone
who, along with our uniformed folk, defended us and maintained our freedoms!
This weekend take a trip to a local cemetery,
find the area that serves as a memorial for those who have served in the
military, speak a name or two from your own family or from the grave stones you
see.
My friend Mr. Hunter, who served in the Navy, has
mentioned, regarding his oath he took upon joining, “It does not have an expiration
date”.
Know this all who serve…My respect for you
does not have an expiration date!
For info on Colonel Wagg visit: https://philscoblehistorian.wordpress.com/tag/col-wagg/
