The Army Chaplian sent this to me from a very good friend of his. When ask if I could share this with others, he told me to share with the world if possible, that everyone needed to see what a veteran thinks of on Veteran's Day and in times that our world is going through. Please keep our soldier's that overseas and their families in your prayers and thoughts.
What Makes a Veteran?
It’s 0400 hours. I’m up. I’m up. Thank you God. Swallow the aspirin, blood pressure and beta-blocker. What a breakfast! O.K., O.K. I’m out the door. Sky where are you? Ooh … look at the stars! North Star where are you? There you are … the dipper points to you. Earth where are you? Frost will soon be up on the grass. Moon shadows from the tree limbs are etched into the streets. Yeap! Wind where are you? You are so soft this morning. I see you moving through the leaves. Water where are you? There you are. You are in the lake. I see you. The moonlight is dancing on you. O.K. God … I’m in touch. It is just you and I alone this morning. Our time together. PT time.
My mind turns to the Stars. I wonder God? Are the stars this bright in Iraq? Can the soldiers see them like I am looking at them? I hope they can see them and I hope they are just this bright for them. I want them to know God that you are there for them this morning. And then I remember that all mornings in the field are not usually this beautiful. There are the cold mornings where you don’t want to get out of the sleeping bag for any reason. The air is so cold that you bury you nose inside to keep from getting frostbite. There are cold wet mornings where every stitch of clothes you have on are soaked … you just keep moving to stay warm and patiently wait for the sun to come up to remind you that you will be warm again. You will be warm again. Thank God.
My mind turns to the Big Oak Tree at the Creek Indian Reservation. The men met there Saturday for the Harvest Ceremony. I can see them gathering around the social fire. Yeap … I missed the ceremony again. I have missed so many this year. This should be the 182nd year unbroken. They smoked and they joked, but they refused to spit on the earth. I know they did. They talked about Cate’ and wondered where he was still with the Marine Recon Team in Iraq. And they told old war stories of MG McIntosh, COL McGillivary and Osceola. The great-grandchildren of these leaders would gather close to the fire to hear the stories and learn the right things to do in the square. I know they did. And they asked, "Where is Yvnvsv Hvse?" I know they did. Well here I am Lord. You and I are doing PT. I need to pull the bogin down just a little more and pick up the pace.
Deer are crossing the street. I see them … one, two, three, four … five. Is there a sixth? Is he in rut? Where is he? Look to the left, look to the right. Listen. It is quiet. No rut. I’m safe. Well that’s two more than yesterday. They feel safe together.
My mind recalls the Veterans Day Service at Midway Macedonia Church on Sunday. My … how SSG Estes put together a great program for thousands of people. LT Chalas circled the church and landed the Black Hawk in front of the wide open-eyed children. A Confederate canon firing as the American Flag touched the top of the pole. The Dixie Divers touching down with T-Chutes bearing the American Flag. Hundreds of veterans from every branch of service marching into worship service wearing their uniforms. Eighty year old SSG Howard Lee wearing his WWII, 82d Airborne uniform. Silver Star, multiple Bronze Stars, three combat jumps. Sitting with him and listening to his stories of WWII and the Nymegan Bridge. Huddled disabled veterans from Vietnam. Tears from Pastor Todd Wright as he shared that Howard introduced him to Jesus Christ at eight years of age and then Howard’s son became his Pastor. What a spiritual legacy! How the pastor reminded us that every despot tried to be God instead of being God-Like and how much we owed thanks to Veterans, who fought so we could be free and worship God. I wonder Lord, what did you show an Eighty year old Veteran in Combat to bring him home to serve you so much that he still raises his hands to praise You? I know Lord.
My mind went back to SSG Estes. I remembered how that soon he would pickup little five year old Ethan in remission from cancer. How he would escort Ethan and his family to Ft. Benning, Stewart and Gordon. This was Ethan’s Make-A-Wish … "to be a soldier for one day. To fight the bad guys". How I would love to say to him … "Ethan, you fought the bad guys. You won this one." Lord, even in the hearts of little children you have placed the desire to understand the right thing and do the difficult at all cost.
click here to continue