This past weekend we remembered those who gave their lives for the rest of us to enjoy the blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Nation lined the tombstones of thousands of military personnel with small American flags to honor their service and to remind us of the high price of freedom. Family members of the fallen heroes will never forget their sacrifices. Fellow warriors who returned home breathing cannot forget the faces of their friends who were brought home in a flag-draped box or laid to rest in distant soil.
By Dr. Richard Pace
Chaplains are more sensitive to the tangle of emotions Memorial Day creates for many people. The pride in a loved one’s patriotic service is entwined with the disdain for war. The joy of living in freedom is knotted with sorrow for its high cost. The wave of grief that comes when remembering a fallen battle buddy is followed by a second wave of guilt for being a survivor. The love for life is overshadowed by the real love of a warrior who was willing to sacrifice all for the benefit of a stranger.
Church of God Chaplains provide significant ministry to those who serve in the military. You preach the gospel on the battlefield to those who may not come home and you volunteer in the homeless shelter to those who came home emotionally wounded. You nurture the spirit of those who make it to your hospitals and clinics, and you encourage the souls of those who show up at your food kitchens.
As the Nation remembers Memorial Day, those who have served us all, I want to thank all of our Church of God Chaplains who have served our troops in some way.
Richard L. Pace, D.Min., is Endorser and Coordinator for Church of God Vocational Chaplaincy Ministries