How many readers fully comprehend the depths and the sacrifices that are now and have been made by veterans? The longer that I live, thankfully the more that I learn and understand.
After attending a beautiful worship service this morning, we bundled ourselves up and drove downtown to watch the annual Veteran’s Day parade.
Along the way we marveled at the many leaves still clinging to the trees, those yellow leaves vividly enhanced by the bright sunlight that embraced the day. On one of the main streets downtown, we quickly found an opening by the curb to stand and watch. Our anticipation grew as we heard the marching bands approaching over the 17th street bridge not far off.
Soldiers from many eras of war led the parade. I didn’t expect the tears to flow as they did when one of the soldiers played taps. For far too many years I had a head knowledge and knew this song was played over the fallen soldiers, but I never really knew what it meant until the day that I heard the definition from my father. My dad is a WW2 veteran. During a recent interview he told me that he and his fellow soldiers were always saddened when they heard the all too familiar taps melody being played in the distance as it only conveyed one thing to their ears; a dear comrade has now fallen. What thoughts raced through their minds? I could’ve be me. It could’ve been me. All of the surviving veterans take no glory or honor upon themselves. There exists a common heart of understanding between them. As a civilian approaches one of these veterans to thank them for their sacrifice as I witnessed, the response is always the same and these sad words, “the real heroes, are still over there” is all that they will say. I guess I’m a bit slow to understand at times. I looked to my dad and asked him, “what does that expression mean?” His look said it all and then I understood.
It was quite difficult to quench the tears after they began. As the bands passed us by, they continued to play patriotic songs.
The word armistice means a truce, a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties. Armistice Day came to be through the first World War when fighting between the Allies and Germany ceased. It went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.
Armistice Day became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.
Please take the time today to reflect upon the meaning of this important holiday. How quickly we forget. May history always serve as a reminder to us all. May we embrace that which is good, true and noble. May we learn from those mistakes that we have made as individuals and as a nation, never to repeat them. May God continue to bless this country of America. May she continue to shine forth that liberty, compassion and mercy upon a hurting world.
Always Remember……….
Greater Love has No Man than this, that He Lay Down His Life for His Friends (John 15:13).
In His Love,
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Tags: American Soldiers, Liberty
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