Memorial Day Remembers

Just a note today about Memorial Day. Thank you to the men and women who so willingly serve our United States of America in the armed forces. I don't know if it's a combination of growing up with a very patriotic family. Being married to Michael for 10 years and him serving in the Coast Guard, maybe it's a combination. I believe I am so blessed to live in the United States, But also to be free to share my faith in Jesus Christ with you openly and willingly. To have a freedom of speech to post my random heart felt thoughts with you. And to not be persecuted. That's a huge deal; I hope you don't take it lightly. I hope that when you hear the National Anthem you feel compelled to cover your heart and take off your cap. I hope that when a parade marches by you're not just looking g for the candy but you're looking for the elderly men gimping along in their uniform and VFW hats. When I was a child we marched in the Ellsworth Memorial Day parade, If it was Blue Birds, 4-H , Marching Band , or dressing as Betsy Ross, I can still make the journey on foot down the big hill and back up again to the corner at Myron's, around the corner and on down 224 to the cemetery...... Then once at the cemetery the VFW representative would explain the Red the White and The Blue of the colors of the flag. I in turn get a magnificent lump in my throat and they salute the fallen comrades.... The fire the 21 gun salute. Taps are played beyond the mausoleum. By this time I as a child would be bored to tears looking for dandelions to pick. Making figures out of the clouds in the sky or thinking I was so hot I might simply com bust. Then in High school I had the divine privilege to play my trombone in the marching band . We always had a select few marches to play and certainly America the Beautiful, Battle Hymn of the Republic, This is My Country, My Country Tis' of Thee. The Boarding the school bus travel out to Berlin Center where we would play the same selections in the gym, then march down to the cemetery.
Now I'm 43, recently at a dear friend's fathers ' memorial service. By the time the VFW Honor Guard got to his casket and presented his beautiful widow the flag, explained the colors to her I was a sobbing , blubbering fool. By the time they left the sanctuary and did the 21 gun salute and played taps. -. i was inconsolable. Thank You for serving thank you for honoring your country. The cute patriotic plaque that says freedom isn't free- I truly respect. I honor you for your service. My Nephew Luke is a United States Army Ranger Lt. That is a an honor and I am so proud of his service, He will be traveling to Korea next week for a 12 month deployment. Pray with me for his safety, the safety of his unit. and for the families each one of them represents. The loved ones they must leave behind in order to serve. God Bless America. It indeed is the land that I love.