ARMED FORCES DAY

In 1949 President Harry Truman designated the third Saturday of May as Armed Forces Day. On this day, all Americans are reminded of the dedication and sacrifices of the men and women who serve their country in the military services.

In 2001 our son took us to Washington D.C. on a long-planned vacation. It was only a week after the destruction of the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. There were very few tourists and many of the things we desired to see were still off limits but we were able to visit the Arlington National Cemetery.

It was an experience I shall never forget. As I stood before the Marine Corps monument depicting the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima, I felt a surge of the old ‘esprit de corps’ I had felt as a youth. Then as I turned and surveyed the acres of crosses and monuments, that feeling merged into a wave of thankfulness for all the Americans who so willingly died for our country.

I remembered those Army Divisions that fought alongside us and the Navy Corpsmen who so risked their lives and often died, giving aid to our wounded. When the chips were down, it really didn’t matter if the planes overhead were Air Force, Navy or Marine as long as they provided cover. I remembered the Navy Cox’ns on the landing boats who braved withering fire on trip after trip, ferrying us ashore, and the Air Force pilot I heard over the radio as he casually requested, "Will one of you fellows give me a hand up here? I’ve got three of these Zeroes surrounded." I remember all these things and I am proud to be an American.

But then comes the question, "how can we reconcile the Biblical injunction to love your enemies with the actions required of those in the military services?"
While many sincerely believe the Bible requires us to be pacifists, I have never accepted that idea. True, we are to ‘turn the other cheek’ and Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; These things I believe and have taught over the years. It is the way a Christian must act in his personal dealings with others; but I believe that Nehemiah's challenge to his people is good for us today. Neh 4:14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

The Apostle Paul used the life of a good soldier as an honorable example of a Christian’s dedication to the Lord.
2 Tim 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Tim 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
After almost every war, Christian Soldiers have returned to the countries of our enemies as Missionaries. Why? Believe it or not, it is because they love their enemies!
Pray for the safety of all our service people and especially for those who are Christians for they wear two uniforms; the armor of the Lord as they witness to their fellows; as well as the uniform of our country. They all need our prayers and encouragement.


THE MILITARY MIND

The band played a lively march,
As the flags waved proudly in the breeze;
The manual of arms and marching commands,
Were all executed with ease.

It's easy to see what motivates,
As one marches to the bands,
But what is the force that urges on
In the blowing, foreign sands?

When death is at your elbow,
And taps your buddy on the shoulder,
How can one NOT turn and run,
But rather, be a little bolder?

This phenomenon was seen at Lexington,
At Gettysburg, and in World War One,
And every battle fought since then;
Our fighters still carry on.

Sure, they have their lofty ideals,
Of serving God and nation,
But home, wife and family
Fill their conversation.

They dream of the day when the bands will play,
And flags wave overhead
But instead of to war, they'll go home once more,
And somehow, they're not so afraid.

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