“Greater love hath no man but to lay down his life for a friend…” Every year, on the last Monday of the month of May, we step aside and remember those who embodied this ideal to the fullest. These are young men who went into the hell of war and came back in body bags. They were never famous, rarely wealthy, and many had no more than their immediate family waiting for them to come home. And yet they are the greatest heroes this nation has ever seen. Each time our nation has been at war, young men such as these have fought, bled, and laid down their lives in service to the United States. They selflessly set aside their fears, their hopes, and their dreams to contribute to something greater than themselves.
I had the privilege of being able to witness one of the more moving Memorial Day remembrances that I have ever seen. For the last three years several groups in Murfreesboro erect flags in a field on the outskirts of town. These flags represent people near and dear to local residents who did not make it home from the ravages of war. Hundreds of flags arranged in rows, each flag 2 feet from the next. Dress right dress, just as if those soldiers, airmen, seamen, and marines were all standing in a mass formation. This evening there was a ceremony to honor specifically those from Tennessee who had given the ultimate sacrifice. The most chilling part of this ceremony was the moment in which our elected officials (many of whom were veterans themselves) took turns reading the names of all those Tennesseans who had fallen in the line of battle since September 11, 2001. Much like seeing the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., it is a very chilling reminder of the terrible cost that our young men have paid to secure our freedoms.
To finish off the ceremony, a 21 gun salute was conducted followed immediately by an Army Staff Sergeant playing taps on the bugle. For those that have never heard taps and the 21 gun salute in person, it is one of the few events in life that will hit anybody to their very core. It is a feeling that words cannot truly describe. I have not had my time in the combat zone yet, but I pray that I’m half as selfless as these men were. I also pray that the citizens of our country understand and appreciate just what was sacrificed to secure their freedoms. Sometimes I wonder if that understanding has left many of our fellow countryman.
One thing that amazes me and continually catches me off guard is when children go out of their way to thank a servicemember or veteran. About 10 months ago I got off duty and went straight to a tractor pull. While I was there and chatting with some friends of mine who had a table set up, a little kid came up to me and asked for my autograph. I was speechless and nearly overcome with emotion. Flash forward to today; A little kid, a little younger than the one from before, came up and handed me a picture he had drawn and was determined to give it to someone in uniform if he saw one. Again, I was speechless to the point to where I could barely get a “thank you” out. Seeing children doing that to thank those who serves reminds me that there is still hope, and that when the Lord decides that it is time for me to pass the torch there will be another generation of soldiers to pass that torch to.
June 11 will mark 7 years since I enlisted into the Army. Coming up on re-enlistment, but I have never deployed overseas up until this point. This is a source of a great burden on my heart. I know many who never made it back, but it is often hard for me to deal with the fact that I have never myself been when so many others that I know have been to combat several times since I enlisted. I know it is all in God’s control at this point and I feel eventually I will see my time in combat. But for now, I will pray for those that are already there and for those that gave their lives already. May they rest in peace forever and may they NEVER be forgotten.
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