Memorial Day Sunday 2012 at Shiloh UMC

 On Memorial Day Sunday, the congregation of Shiloh UMC concluded their morning service by going into the cemetery to place American flags on the graves of the veterans buried there.

 We found 26 veterans buried in the Shiloh UMC cemetery. There are veterans spanning from the Civil War through the Korean War. We have confirmed two veterans that fought for the Confederacy.

 One member of Shiloh commented that he had attended church there for 60 years and this was the first time that they had recognized the veterans in this way.

 We don't have complete records; branch of service, rank, conflict, dates, etc; on all the veterans. There are probably other veterans that we haven't realized as of yet. But this was our start.

 Our plan is to do this every May for Memorial Day and again every November for Veterans Day. That way the flags will be replaced every 6 months. The old flags will taken to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion for proper disposal.

 We concluded our morning service gathered in the shade of the big oak tree in the cemtery. We talked about the importance of what we had just done and how we need to teach this to future generations, so that they will remember.

I know that there are some that feel that we should not combine the spiritual and the secular. That the church is not the place to recognize National days like Memorial Day. For me, this is a Holy day and it is our intention to continue to remember those who stood in the gap made the sacrifice that we might gather and worship in freedom.

Memorial Day 2011 at Republican Grove UMC

The tradition at Republican Grove UMC is the each Memorial day and Veteran's Day we replace the flags on the graves of our veteran's.

The old flags are gathered together with respect and taken where they can be disposed of properly.

It was a very special day and I have been honored to participate.

Even the youngest learn of the sacirifice of our veterans.

4th of July

I caught this flipping through the channels today. Took awhile to find it online, but it was worth it.

Memorial Day 2010 at Republican Grove UMC

Joanne and I were were in New York visiting our grandchildren over Memorial Day weekend. While we were gone, Republican Grove UMC continued their Memorial Day tradition.

After the morning service the members of Republican Grove UMC go to the church cemetery and place an American flag at the grave of each member who served in the military.

The flags that were placed on the graves the previous year for Memorial Day are gathered. The old flags are then taken to the National Gaurd unit for proper disposal. There is a ceremony that is conducted before the flags are destroyed. It is a ceremony that shows respect and honor to the flags.

It is a moment that will bring tears to your eyes as the church remembers those who served to assure them the freedom to gather and worship in peace and freedom.

Veteran's Day

Yesterday evening we went to Applebee's restaurant to celebrate Veteran's Day; my sister, Karen (USAF), Joanne, and I (USAF). The national chain of restaurants was offering free meals to all military, veterans and active duty. I had seen these kind of offers years past, but I had never participated. I had always thought there were retired and active duty that deserved it more than I did. This year was different. Joanne went digging around until she found my discharge papers, then she called and told me we were going.

When we got there it was packed, but no one seemed in a rush or pushy. There were all ages there; those in there 80's all the way to some who looked very young. We talked to some of the people there while we waited. You felt you were there with comrades and friends, people that you were proud to have dinner with. All the staff would thank the veterans for their service. It was very appreciated. Thanks, Applebee's. Thanks, Joanne, for making me go.

A Thought for Veteran's Day

As I was thinking about Veteran's Day, I got to thinking about all the men and women serving our country who are parents. What a balancing act they do between being defenders of our country, ready to place their lives on the line because of the duty they have chosen, and the love they have for their children, wanting to watch them grow to be adults. While thinking about that, I found the following pictures from when I was in the Air Force.

I didn't really think about it much back then, but today it's on my mind a lot.

Memorial Day

First, let me apologize for missing this day when I was catching up from where I left the blog in April. I was reminded of my neglect when I read the blog of a gentleman I've been keeping up with for several months. Please read:
http://abueloeddie.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/an-old-squaddys-hope/

I know there are many who think that Memorial and church shouldn't be mixed. I am not of that thought. For me and many others, Memorial day is a High Holy Day. It is a day to recognize those who have served and are no longer with us. For me Christianity is about love and sacrifice. For me that is what Memorial day is also recognizing. I'm not trying to put them on equal standing, I just want you to know how important this is for me.

At each church we recognized Memorial Day and the service of are men and women in uniform. At Republican Grove UMC, when the Sunday service was concluded, we went out back to the cemetery. We went to each grave in the cemetery of individuals who served in the military, removed the flag that had been placed there last year, and placed a new flag. We had one flag remaining, Nancy Moste asked if she could place the flag by the bench at the back of the cemetery in remembrance of her father, who had served.

The year old flags that were removed were taken by Betty Jo Dawson to the Army Reserve to be properly disposed. You do not simply throw away an old American flag. There is a specific ceremony that is conducted before the flags are destroyed.

http://www.flagkeepers.org/ProperDisposalCeremony.asp

When we had placed the flags on the graves, I was asked to say something to close. I told them of a young Marine and his family I met at Disney World. This young man had done two tours in Iraq. We talked for awhile, when he asked me if I had been in the military. I told him I had been in the Air Force from 1972 to 1980. He reached out his hand to me and shook my hand saying, "Thank you for your service." I can't really remember anyone ever having said it like that to me before. I was so humbled and appreciative I can't explain. So my closing that morning was, "Thank you all for your service".

Lets Say Thanks

XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING COOL
If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second.Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them.This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you.

Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's.Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

Eyes Wide Open

On Monday morning there was a display set up outside the civic center. It was called "Eyes Wide Open". The display focused on the cost of war to the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 125 pairs of combat boots representing the fallen service men and women from Virginia.


Each boot had a tag with the name of a service person who died in the war in Iraq.


Some had things placed in or on them. All items added were placed there either by family or people who knew them.



The were pictures, flags, flowers, toys, notes from their children; reminders of the human loss.

The exhibit opened just before the close of the Clergy Executive Session, which meant that as each pastor exited into the sunlit courtyard the thing that they first saw was the boots.

For me it wasn't about making a political statement. It was about remembering that the numbers we hear or read about concerning those who have died are more than numbers. They were someones child, parent, spouse and they're not coming home. It reminds me that war simply sucks. It's not about right and wrong, I'm not arguing about that, war just sucks. I'm not talking cutting and running either, war just sucks. Get it?

Check out http://www.afsc.org/eyes/