Honoring our veterans and military personnel (week 1)

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”
– Maya Angelou

This month we pause to support our troops and honor all our armed service veterans. On November 11, 2013 our nation will honor the men and women who have served and are serving our country. Many of our veterans have returned home from war with scars, injuries and are having a very difficult time. The price for freedom costs. Unless you have served in the military, you really don’t know how it feels to sign your name to a piece of paper and walk down a cold hallway to the processing station. Then, have to get on a plane not knowing if you will ever return home. The cost our servicemen and women pay is great. Jesus says in John 15:13:
“Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend.”
Have you ever sat and thought about your struggles and pain and then found yourself feeling sorry for yourself? During those times, think about the soldier far from home driving down a road littered with grenades not knowing when the next bomb will be detonated or piloting an airplane in hostile territory constantly on the lookout for enemy fire. The greatest thing we can do this Veterans Day and the upcoming holiday season is to not serve ourselves, but remember these brave soldiers who serve us willingly and sacrificially. As a nation, we need to also take time to honor the families of these veterans and active servicemen and women who have stood by their husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, daughters, mothers and loved ones as they serve our beloved country.
This Veterans Day, November 11, 2013, we salute and honor our veterans and we acknowledge we owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans because they have been willing to go, to serve and to give on behalf of the United States of America!
Note: The 50th Annual Milwaukee Veterans Day Parade and Day of Honor will be held on November 9, 2013 beginning at 11:00 a.m. to honor all Americans who have served. The parade route will start at the corner of 4th and West Kilbourn Avenue in downtown Milwaukee.

May God Bless Our Veterans!

Next Week: History of Veterans Day
The writer does not assume responsibility in any way for readers’ efforts to apply or utilize information or recommendations made in these articles, as they may not be necessarily appropriate for every situation to which they may refer. Rather, the objective is strictly informative and educational. If you would like to contact Rev. Lester, write to her c/o P.O. Box 121, Brookfield, WI. 53008.