My Favorite Soldier.

It was the 1950’s and family picnics always included a cookout and a chance rub shoulders with my Uncle Henry. All of my uncles and aunts on the Arnos side of the family were special to me, but my hero worship for “Hank” was very high! I always hoped that he would recognize me and he never failed to greet every one of the young cousins that were his nieces and nephews. Our parents talked about how Hank was in World War II and participated in some of the most intense fighting. The picnics often took place in Archbold, Ohio’s Ruihley Park where I admired a large cannon that was on display in the middle of the park. Someone thought it was an M116, 75MM Howitzer but Hank never talked about any aspect of his military life with us.

He was in a lot of exotic places as a soldier but it was on Okinawa that the fiercest battles took place for him. Hank never talked openly to us about what went on there, but we know from other reports that it was not pretty. I often wondered how this very sweet man could have survived the demands of war that were waged on those islands that were leading our troops toward Japan. His most passionate plea was always, “I just hope you never have to go to war!” Each day that passes, we have fewer veterans left from WW II to share their passion with us about why they hope we never have to go to war.

Memorial Day has become a watered down day for many Americans who are more concerned about the start of summer. If we lose the passion to explain why Uncle Henry and many others have gone to some distant place to defend the USA, just think how watered down this holiday will be in 2030? Find someone who has been or is in the military and shake their hand or buy their lunch and say thanks, we appreciate YOU! They will know what you are talking about!

Galatians 1:6-8 (NIV) “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”

Monday Morning Message Sent 5/25/09

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