Our nation had its birth amidst
the Thunder of Battle – Concord Township witnessed the sowing, into the soil
of Freedom, the first blood of patriotism. Little did the Colonies, or the
world, know what great sacrifices would be required, in blood, toil, and
suffering, over the coming months to purchase that Freedom for which men must
sacrifice and for which our Lord, as well, died to grant to all who believe on
Him.
Those crosses
at Arlington, Flanders’ Field, and military cemeteries around the world represent
the cost of freedom hard won. Each Cross, or Star of David, represents, not a
lump of clay, but a patriotic soul who gave the last sacrifice that we may be
honored to carry on in the tradition of Freedom, and Liberty, and Godly
endeavor. Even if our freedoms were lost today, the dying of these valiant
souls would not have been in vain. Even a short moment of freedom, once
enjoyed, is worth more than centuries of serfdom. How precious is this freedom
to the hearts of a Godly people! If we fail to lift the battle flag at the
first signs of tyranny, the blood of our beloved soldiers, living and dead will
thunder from the dust, and from the beloved mountains - east and west.
The services
of such courageous defenders of our Liberties, both men and women, are not
cheapened by their unworthy leaders that may have achieved high office.
Though such unworthy leaders may cringe behind the masks of restraint and
political intrigue, it is yet the soldier, seaman, and airman that must pay the
price for their ineptitude.
As America
stands poised on the brink of greater challenges to Liberty than previous
generations, it is this danger; this challenge; this uncertainty that makes
heroes out of the common farmer and seamstress. The prophet does not stand and
proclaim until the moment that God calls, and the hero does not stand as hero
until the circumstances warrant. I know that America has not seen the last of
her heroic warriors for Liberty. I am personally acquainted with many sterling
and precious young souls that will answer the call when the clarion sounds. Are
you, too, ready?
As the
favorite writer of my childhood, Rudyard Kipling, has prayed:
“For God and the soldier
we adore, In time of danger, not before!
The danger passed, and all things
righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted."
I trust that
this great country will soon come to remember the Almighty God whom they have
slighted and repent in tears and weeping.
To all of our
veterans, living and dead, I commend to you the words of General George
Washington to our valiant ancestors in arms two hundred years ago:
“And being now to conclude these his
last public Orders, to take his ultimate leave, in a short time, of the
Military Character, and to bid a final adieu to the Armies he has so long had
the honor to Command--he can only again offer in their behalf his
recommendations to their grateful Country, and his prayers to the God of
Armies. May ample justice be done them here, and may the choicest of Heaven's
favors both here and hereafter attend those, who under the divine auspices have
secured innumerable blessings for others.”
AMEN
