Monthly Archives: May 2021

LET US NEVER FORGET

Today is Memorial Day … a national holiday where we remember in gratitude those who sacrificed their lives in defense of our nation and our liberties. It is not about high speed race cars, gatherings where we enjoy great food together or anything else. It is about giving honor to whom honor is due. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen gave their all so that we could have the freedom and blessing of such things. My heart goes out to families of those who died while serving in the military … and let’s not forget those in civilian life such as policemen, firemen and others who also have lost their lives serving us. We are so blessed here in America.

My dad served in WW2. One of his duties was being part of a 3 man crew on a Higgins boat landing craft taking the soldiers and Marines ashore usually under heavy fire. He told me of many times hearing bullets whiz past his head just missing him. He had a terrifying experience stuck on the beachhead during the landing of Marines at Iwo Jima when their Higgins boat was damaged. The boat propeller had picked up a steel cable underwater and stripped out the gearbox leaving the boat drifting toward rocks ashore. The three of them had to abandon the boat and try to swim to shore. He never saw the other two men again so he assumed they either drowned or were killed by enemy fire. It was very difficult and dangerous swimming to shore. He had no weapon to protect himself. All kinds of bullets and shells were being fired constantly. All he could do is hide behind an open bow door of an amphibious landing ship. He spent the entire night there. The next morning his ship sent another boat in looking for their boat and its crew. He was all they found.

I can’t help but think about how blessed I am to have my dad make it thru that horror and be able to live his full life. Of course, I would not be here is he hadn’t. And you would not be reading this blog. In his 80s he was presented with a military shadowbox by one of his grandsons.

He was ready to go again …

In his 80s a couple of his grandsons talked him into getting a computer. He learned how to do photo editing and got creative with many different things including this picture above.

Here is a picture of two of my heroes …

I am truly saddened and ashamed of and for those who give no thought to what our freedom cost. I myself served 8 years in the U.S. Navy so I know very well the sacrifices military members make.

It was no picnic. But thanks to those who willingly served yesteryear and today my family and some of our friends will be enjoying a cookout with some of the traditional holiday foods. I plan on giving honor to whom honor is due before we indulge in the good food. I invite you to do the same.

Freedom is much cherished by man but sadly even in our freedoms we can be in bondage and not even realize it.

The One to Whom the most honor and gratitude are due laid down His life willingly for us. Yes, Jesus Christ, the Name Above All Names, truly set me free and it is to Him I offer my highest praise. No one else accomplished what He did nor could they. Thru the shedding of His totally innocent blood I have forgiveness of my sin and the promise of eternal life. He paid the price I could not pay. I needed a Savior and He willingly laid down His life for me. And He did it for you as well. It is by His grace we are saved. But He won’t always offer us His grace. He came the first time to offer us a means of escaping the fate we deserve.

We are accountable to Jesus, our Creator …

He is coming a second time to pour out His wrath on those who have rejected His grace and offer to save them. If you have not done so already I ask you … WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS? He alone offers salvation and forgiveness of sin … and it is free to you. He paid the ultimate price for our salvation but He offers it freely to us …

A FREE GIFT awaits you!