PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

 

This speech was delivered on Memorial Day at Wagner, SD on 5/26/2015 For the American Greer Post #11

I wish to thank you for giving me a foreigner the great honor and privilege to be among you and share few thoughts what makes me a proud American

 

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN
With your permission, I would like to ask any person who has served or are serving now, in any branch of our armed forces to kindly stand up and be recognized. Please join me as we honor them and thank the Lord for their services to this great nation. (Please be seated).

We the people of the greatest Nation on earth—the USA gather in Wagner, SD on this Memorial Day with heart-felt gratitude and praise to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who in His Divine Wisdom and providence has richly blessed our Land with Peace, Liberty and Justice. 

At the same time, we lift our eyes and lips heavenward in thanksgiving to the Lord for the American Soldier—our HERO, who daily puts himself/herself in harm’s way to keep us from every evil and enemy, that may come upon this land of the free and the home of the brave.

With great joy I say to you that I am proud to be an American. Proud because in America I have freedom of religion, of speech, with liberty and justice! Proud to live in this great country because I can still take my Bible in hand and walk to church without having to be afraid of someone cutting my head off. I am proud to be an American because I can speak my mind against the injustice of the government without being afraid of reprisal. 

I am proud to be an American because of the American soldier—the Vanguard of freedom, who permits me and my family to sleep at night with peace and joy. I don’t have to be afraid of the enemy because I know my hero the American Soldier will come to my aid and protection.

I am proud to be an American because the American Soldier continues daily to provide the means to live here and keep the wolf from our doors. I am indeed proud to be an American because this nation has afforded me the opportunity to be educated, to serve God’s people and care for my family without fear for my life. I am proud to be an American because of a story like this:

Listen to the voice of Marine Lt. Gen. John Kelly as he gave a speech on Veterans Day in St. Louis few years back: I am going to use part of his speech:

…The protected can’t begin to understand the price paid so they and their families can sleep safe and free at night.  No, they are not victims, but are warriors, your warriors, and warriors are never victims regardless of how and where they fall.  Death, or fear of death, has no power over them.  Their paths are paved by sacrifice, sacrifices they gladly make…for you.  They prove themselves everyday on the field of battle…for you.  They fight in every corner of the globe…for you.  They live to fight…for you, and they never rest because there is always another battle to be won in the defense of America.
I will leave you with a story about the kind of people they are…about the quality of the steel in their backs…about the kind of dedication they bring to our country while they serve in uniform and forever after as veterans.  Two years ago when I was the Commander of all U.S. and Iraqi forces, in fact, the 22nd of April 2008, two Marine infantry battalions, 1/9 “The Walking Dead,” and 2/8 were switching out in Ramadi.  One battalion in the closing days of their deployment going home very soon, the other just starting its seven-month combat tour. Two Marines, Corporal Jonathan Yale and Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, 22 and 20 years old respectively, one from each battalion, were assuming the watch together at the entrance gate of an outpost that contained a makeshift barracks housing 50 Marines.  The same broken down ramshackle building was also home to 100 Iraqi police, also my men and our allies in the fight against the terrorists in Ramadi, a city until recently the most dangerous city on earth and owned by Al Qaeda… 

But they were Marines, combat Marines, forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same woman. The mission orders they received from the sergeant squad leader I am sure went something like: “Okay you two clowns, stand this post and let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass.”  “You clear?”  I am also sure Yale and Haerter then rolled their eyes and said in unison something like: “Yes Sergeant,” with just enough attitude that made the point without saying the words, “No kidding sweetheart, we know what we’re doing.”  They then relieved two other Marines on watch and took up their post at the entry control point of Joint Security Station Nasser, in the Sophia section of Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq. A few minutes later a large blue truck turned down the alley way-perhaps 60-70 yards in length-and sped its way through the serpentine of concrete jersey walls.  The truck stopped just short of where the two were posted and detonated, killing them both catastrophically. Twenty-four brick masonry houses were damaged or destroyed.  A mosque 100 yards away collapsed.  The truck’s engine came to rest two hundred yards away knocking most of a house down before it stopped.  Our explosive experts reckoned the blast was made of 2,000 pounds of explosives.  Two died, and because these two young infantrymen didn’t have it in their DNA to run from danger, they saved 150 of their Iraqi and American brothers-in-arms.  Kelly goes on to say: I traveled to Ramadi the next day and spoke individually to a half-dozen Iraqi police all of whom told the same story.  The blue truck turned down into the alley and immediately sped up as it made its way through the serpentine.  They all said, “We knew immediately what was going on as soon as the two Marines began firing.”  The Iraqi police then related that some of them also fired, and then to a man, ran for safety just prior to the explosion.  All survived.  Many were injured…some seriously.  One of the Iraqis elaborated and with tears welling up said, “They’d run like any normal man would to save his life.”  “What he didn’t know until then,” he said, “and what he learned that very instant, was that Marines are not normal.”  Choking past the emotion he said, “Sir, in the name of God no sane man would have stood there and done what they did.”  “No sane man.”  “They saved us all.” - See more at: http://www.moaablogs.org/battleofthebilge/2010/11/honor-and-sacrifice-ltgen-john-f-kelly/#sthash.lDuu6tSm.dpuf  

Do you understand why I love this country and the privilege to live here? Because of your sons and daughters who daily are on the front line keeping the wolf at bay so that these kinds of events don’t happen in our land. 

Certainly there has been an assault on our way of life. We don’t live like we use too. At the airport we are checked and inconvenienced by the hassles. Now we hear of foreign words that we can’t pronounce like Taliban, Mujahedeen, Alshabab, Al Qaeda and ISIS. These are the enemy that we can’t see. Yet they are out to destroy us and want to bring down our flying Eagle.

In her book “Unbroken,” Laura Hillenbrand speaks of Louie Zamperini’s story as POW in Japan during WWII. I share with you a snippet of these wonderful and moving words that touched my heart and soul and made me cry:

…That afternoon, an American navy man dug through his belongings and pulled out his most secret and precious possession. It was an American flag with a remarkable provenance.  In 1941, just before Singapore had fallen to the Japanese, an American missionary woman had given it to a British POW. The POW had been loaded aboard a ship, which had sunk. Two days later, another British POW had rescued the flag from where it lay underwater and skipped it to the American navy man, who had carried it through the entire war, somehow hiding it from the Japanese, until this day. The POWs pulled down the Japanese flag and ran the Stars and Stripes up the pole over Rokuroshi. The men stood before it, hands up in salutes, tears running down their faces. (p 331) PAUSE.

This flag still flies high today. Today, we don’t have to be afraid as citizens of this great nation. We can stand together. We can tell the Administration of the great words of Abraham Lincoln who in his Gettysburg address said: “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”

We don’t have to be afraid to stand up for freedom sake. We don’t have to be afraid from any bully domestic or foreign who attack us. We don’t have to be afraid from anyone, because as free people we tell the world about those who sleep in trenches, who eat cold meals, who are in the heat of the sun, the cold of night, in the mountain, in the sea or in the desert; are there to defend our freedom. We have freedom purchased by the blood of martyrs and the dedication of the Military personnel. Our freedom is not free—it has been paid by the life and shed blood of the American Soldier.

It is the American Soldier who rises up and wears the uniform and stand sentry to make sure that our borders and buildings, our homes and hearts are protected against the evil foe. And who is the American Soldier? The Average age of our solider is 20 ½ years old. He/she is the brightest and the best of our nation. He/she is tall or short. He is a man or a woman. He is your father; mother, brother, sister, cousin, nephew and niece. He/she is a volunteer. They are many but an army of one. Some of them you know and others you don’t. But it is the American Solider the unsung hero who makes it possible for us to live in freedom.  You know that there are no freedoms, without those willing to fight for them. And our American Solider have been fighting to keep Freedom alive ever since the inception of this nation. PAUSE.

Another quote from Laura

The plane’s red code light was blinking rapidly. A radioman in the water near Louie read the signals and suddenly cried out: “OH! THE WAR IS OVER!”
In seconds, masses of naked men were stampeding out of the river and up the hill. As the plane turned loops above, the pilot waving, the POWs swarmed into the compound, out of their minds with relief and rapture. Their fear of the guards, of the massacre they had so long awaited, was gone, dispersed by the roar and muscle of the bomber. The prisoners jumped up and down, shouted, and sobbed. Some scrambled onto the camp roofs, waving their arms and singing out they joy to the pilot above. Others piled against the camp fence and sent it crashing over. Someone found matches, and soon, the entire length of the fence was burning. The Japanese shrank back and withdrew.
In the midst of the running, celebrating men, Louie stood on wavering legs, emaciated, sick, and dripping wet. In his tired mind, two words were repeating themselves, over and over. “I’M FREE! I’M FREE! I’M FREE!”  PP. 312-313

Yes, we are free—free because someone cared—the American Soldier. We are free to go camping and boating, hunting and fishing and travel without having to be stopped at a check point. That is why Louie Zamperini and millions like him put on the uniform and fight our enemies so freedom can be enjoyed and lived, so that peace and prosperity may flourish and our children live on and tell the next generation of this great nation.

Toby Keith, a country music singer, wrote one of the most moving songs in tribute to these brave volunteers—the men and women of our Armed Forces called, “American Soldier” Here are the lyrics of this song:
I'm just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at 'em, bright and early
I'm all business in my suit
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success
From my head down to my boots
I don't do it for the money
There's bills that I can't pay
I don't do it for the glory
I just do it anyway
Providing for our future's my responsibility
Yeah I'm real good under pressure
Being all that I can be
And I can't call in sick on Mondays
When the weekends been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey, I'm true down to the core
And I will always do my duty no matter what the price
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don't want to die for you
But if dyin's asked of me
I'll bear that cross with honor
'Cause freedom don't come free
I'm an American soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand
When Liberty's in jeopardy, I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front line
Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American soldier. PAUSE.
FREE PEOPLE OF THESE UNITED STATES, we don’t have to be afraid from any administration because we are a government of the people, by the people, for the people. And these people have power when they join hands together and work for the betterment of the community and society. We can give of our service, silver and sacrifice for the greater cause—it is not about us; but about living in this great Land of ours.

And as an American Citizen, I am proud to live here and work with you and thank God for the American Soldier who makes it ALL possible for me and you to live here in freedom. After all freedom is NOT free; but a gift given to us through our heroes—the American Soldier—THE VANGUARD OF FREEDOM!

MEMORIAL DAY SPEECH

On Monday, May 26, I was privileged and honored to give the Memorial Day speech.

Below is the opening and closing prayer along with the speech.

OPENING PRAYER:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today, we gather beneath the Stars and Stripes-the emblem of freedom and glory to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice; but we also stand beneath the cross of Christ that gives us a freedom that is beyond the bounds of this world. Therefore, we pray, Almighty Lord that You will bless this nation and all of those who have gathered here today. Guide and guard her from foreign and domestic enemies. Protect our brave men and women who are serving us all across the globe so that we can enjoy and cherish the freedom we have.

In the name of Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID.

All of us in this place have so many blessings that we don’t often think about how rich free of fear and even spoiled we are!

Daily we wake up without any fear. We get dressed and go to work without fear. We go to school and don’t even consider fear. When the weekend approaches, we go camping, boating, golfing or picnicking without fear. And on Sunday mornings all of us have the great privilege of being involved in attending our own denominational churches without having to be afraid of being harassed, burned, shot, maimed or killed.

You don’t have to be afraid because in the history of this great nation, there have always been sentries on duty to make sure you and I can enjoy the liberty and freedom we have. You don’t have to be afraid to go sleep because you know no one is going to come and take your home or freedom away, thanks to those who stand guard and protect this land. For over 238 years Old Glory has soared over the nation to tell the world this is the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave on account of the men and women who fought and died for this land.

However, our freedom and liberty is and has been under attack lately. We have witnessed recently Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who had been invited to give the commencement address at Rutgers University in New Jersey has been disinvited because of her involvement in the Iraq war during the Bush administration.

We saw it as the government attacked and sued Hobby Lobby because they didn’t agree with the Obamacare mandate to pay for abortions. We heard it in the court rooms of New Mexico when Christian photographer Elane, was ordered to photograph a wedding (gay couples) which violated her religious convictions. We have observed how the IRS has been used as an agent of attack to harm and harass political opponents. And just in the last couple of weeks we have seen and heard of the great scandal against our Veterans—who have been mistreated, lied to, dishonored and some even died as they waited for treatment.

Yes, we are under attack. There are many people who live here under the banner of freedom and liberty and enjoy these freedoms and privileges; yet desire to change the outlook of the USA. When people raise up the white flag of surrender instead of the Red, White and Blue our freedom and liberty is sold to the bullies and molesters of the freedom that has been purchased by the spilled blood and ultimate sacrifice of military personnel—the brave men and women.

But you and I, as free citizens need not be afraid. We can stand together. We can tell the Administration of the great words of Abraham Lincoln who in his Gettysburg address said: “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”

We don’t have to be afraid to stand up for freedom sake. We don’t have to be afraid from any bully domestic or foreign who attack us. We don’t have to be afraid from anyone, because as free people we tell the world about those who sleep in trenches, who eat cold meals, who are in the heat of the sun, the cold of night, in the mountain, in the sea or in the desert; are there to defend our freedom. We have freedom purchased by the blood of martyrs and the dedication of the Military personnel. Our freedom is not free—it has been paid by the life and shed blood of the American Soldier.

Toby Keith, a country music singer, wrote one of the most moving songs in tribute to these brave volunteers—the men and women of our Armed Forces called, “American Soldier” Here are the lyrics of this song:

I'm just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at 'em, bright and early
I'm all business in my suit
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success
From my head down to my boots

I don't do it for the money
There's bills that I can't pay
I don't do it for the glory
I just do it anyway
Providing for our future's my responsibility
Yeah I'm real good under pressure
Being all that I can be

And I can't call in sick on Mondays
When the weekends been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey, I'm true down to the core

And I will always do my duty no matter what the price
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don't want to die for you
But if dyin's asked of me
I'll bear that cross with honor
'Cause freedom don't come free

I'm an American soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand
When Liberty's in jeopardy, I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front line
Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American soldier. PAUSE.

FREE PEOPLE OF THESE UNITED STATES, we don’t have to be afraid from any administration because we are a government of the people, by the people, for the people. And these people have power when they join hands together and work for the betterment of the community and society. We can give of our service, silver and sacrifice for the greater cause—it is not about us; but about living in this great Land of ours.

Today, as we gather beneath the Red, White and Blue, I implore you to lift your eyes high above the sky, (encourage them to look up) see the symbol of freedom flying and KNOW we don’t have to be afraid.

Yes, we don’t have to be afraid. As we stand today together in this cemetery to remember and honor the memories of those who gave their lives, we thank them and their families for their sacrifice.

But above all, let us thank the Lord, Jesus Christ the King of the Universe, who chose to leave the beauty and glory of heaven and come down to our polluted earth and live in the ditches for us. Behold this King of kings and Lord of lords coming to serve us as our Slave. A slave, who was tried, tortured, tormented and hung on a Tree to win our freedom. This King, who has won our freedom, also sustains our great military leaders, men and women. He sustains them through His Word and blessed Sacraments. He protects them with His mighty, caring, powerful and pierced hands. He upholds them in the hour of need and fills their hearts with peace even in the battle field.

Today, with great joy and the liberty and freedom we have on account of the shed blood of Christ, we live, eat, play, work and sleep beneath the bloodied cross of Christ without fear. Today, we lift our voices heavenward and thank Him for what He has accomplished—winning our Eternal FREEDOM and has given us life forever with Him.

Thanks be to God, that we the people of these USA DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID.

God bless the USA and its men and women who serve her.

THE BENEDICTION:

In the name of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who won our freedom through His death and resurrection; in the name of the Father who sent His ONLY Son, Jesus to fight our arch enemies-satan, sin and death and gave us this freedom; in the name of the Holy Spirit who teaches us in His Word that in Christ we have eternal freedom and live joyfully forever with Him; may your day, week, year and life be forever blessed. Amen.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FREEDOM

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FREEDOM

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen. Dear Lord, Jesus Christ as a grateful Nation, many will be gathering today to show honor to our fallen and living heroes—the American soldiers. We pray, that You Father of all Compassion, Mercy and Grace, would sustain them to a peace and a hope that their service to our country is not in vain. That we, as a nation; are here to support them with our prayers, our devotion and love and to show them that our hearts will be forever grateful for their service and sacrifice. We ask You dear Jesus to continue to pour out Your favor upon this nation that all people might come to worship You as the ONLY TRUE Savior of the world and open the Kingdom of heaven to all believers. In Your name we pray, sweet Jesus. Amen.

On this day we call Memorial Day it is fitting that we remember. It is very important that we remember that our freedom isn’t free. Freedom is purchased. Its currency is not monetary. No the purchase of freedom is made with sacrifice. The sacrifice is made by ordinary men and women who are put in extraordinary situations and called upon to do extraordinary things.

That sacrifice was made by men and women from across this nation. They came from the busy streets of our biggest cities, sleepy towns; villages and farm fields not unlike our town of Armour. They weren’t superheroes. They were young men and women who answered the call to service that comes as a responsibility of freedom. As we look around today, many of those who made the sacrifice of years in their lives are all around us. Still others are bearing in their bodies, mind and souls the scars of that sacrifice. But more to the point of this day, there were those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They are the ones who are buried in places like Flanders Field, Arlington National Cemetery, right here at Pleasant Ridge and other places around the world. They faced up to the responsibilities of freedom by giving up all they had.

On this Memorial Day it is critical and important for us who stand here remembering the sacrifice of others that the same responsibility of freedom falls to us. Each one of us owes a debt to the Lord and to those who died to embrace every responsibility that freedom brings with it. There may come a time when we will be called to put ourselves on the line. God forbid that the circumstances of our world force us or our sons and daughters to take up arms to bear the responsibility of freedom! While this is a pious wish, we know that this responsibility bearing does indeed fall to all of us. We know this because at this moment there are Marines and Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen doing that very thing to keep FREEDOM alive and well.

But how is it that you and I are called to bear the responsibility of freedom. The first part of this is what we are doing today. We are remembering those who have given all and keeping their memories alive. When we hold before us the images of sacrifice and take into our minds and hearts the costs of that freedom, we are bearing the responsibility for it. In this, we don’t take our freedoms lightly. When we look at the flags that adorn the graves of the fallen heroes and remember that expense, we bear the responsibility.

But there is one other way that we are able to bear the responsibility of freedom. It is to practice the freedoms that we have been given by the Lord God Almighty and have been defended by those who have made the ultimate sacrifice! This can be as simple as being gathered by the Holy Spirit to receive God’s gifts in His house weekly. It is taking part in the process of governing by making sure that we are informed before and being active at the polls. Even if we do not agree politically, it is critical that each and every citizen bears the responsibility of freedom by going to the polls and casting a ballot that is in keeping with our God-given conscience. To do less is to shirk our responsibility of freedom. This responsibility may even lead some of us to step forward to serve as well.

This is not an exhaustive list. But it does give us the idea that there are responsibilities that WE bear when it comes to our freedoms. The Lord has been too gracious to us in giving us these freedoms for us not to be responsible. Those who have defended these freedoms have paid too high a cost for us to bear these responsibilities lightly.

Dear gathered friends, remember that law and order came to each community at the expense of responsible men who fought and sacrificed their lives for justice. But in a far greater way, freedom came to us by the responsible men and women of the armed forces who stood vigil in the trenches and canals to keep freedom’s light burning brightly for us to enjoy. PAUSE.

What is our responsibility as a nation towards those who have borne these responsibilities? What we will be is very much the same. How we, each one of us, bears these responsibilities will affect the generations to come. We have far too much to lose. The responsibility is great. But so is the grace of God that will lead us to be able to fulfill these responsibilities.

As a grateful nation, our responsibility is to honor the memories of those who sacrificed their blood, limbs and even lives and to never forget them. Our responsibilities are to stand up proudly when we see the military holding high the flag that bears the stars and stripes. Our responsibilities are to support these veterans in every human way possible—physical, mental and spiritual and to assist their families and care for their needs. Our responsibilities are to dig deep into our pocket books and come to the rescue of the wounded soldiers so that they may live in the freedom which they fought to provide for us.

As a grateful nation, our privilege and responsibility as citizens of these United States of America is to fold our hands, bow our heads, close our eyes and lift up our prayers heaven ward to the God of all grace who moved the brazen, bold, and brave men and women to defend us at every cost. Our responsibilities are to let these brave men and women to be first in line and for us to move back. Our responsibilities are to thank them and their families for services rendered.

Please, please dear friends, don’t forget your responsibility as a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords, but also as a citizen of this great nation—we call the United States of America. Stand up to defend her. Stand up and sing her praises. Stand up and honor her with your service and your prayers. Stand up and let freedom reign, so that others may come to our shores and live in harmony and peace within these shores.

Remember this and remember it well dear friends, Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember the sacrifices made to preserve our freedom. But don’t make it only one day. Don’t let Memorial Day be a day spent camping, boating, golfing or picnicking. Let every day be a Memorial Day because this freedom allows us to live free to worship, speak and move around. And on a far grander scale, every Sunday the heavenly Father gives us the great honor to learn more about the Freedom His Son, our Savior, has earned for us by dying on the cross to free us from sin.

What a joy the heavenly Father gives us to be His responsible citizens—to live in the freedom of the cross and the empty tomb as proud Americans. What an honor these responsible men and women who wore the uniform of the US military have provided in caring for this nation and leaving it a better place for the generation to come.

As a grateful nation, we pray that God would grant us this privilege to be as responsible as we can so that many more may know of this FREEDOM and keep the torch of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness available to all. God bless now and always.

Please join me in a word of prayer

Heavenly Father, as a grateful nation, today we gather in this place as responsible citizens to remember those who have served our country with honor, bravery, dedication and devotion, especially those who have given their lives. We praise You for all the blessings that we enjoy as a result of their sacrifice, including peace, liberty, security, and the freedom we have to move about without any confinement and above all to enter Your house of worship to receive Your abundant blessings. We implore you to keep our young, proud, bold and brave men and women who are serving today safe and bring them home to their loved ones soon. We also, ask You to use us as Your responsible and valued instruments of peace and love as we serve You and others. In Jesus' most holy name we pray. Amen.

THE AMERICAN SOLDIER—THE UNSUNG HERO

(This speech was delivered at the Memorial Day Service in Armour, SD on May 31, 2010 in front of a crowd of about 400. I thank God for the honor and privilege to do so.)

THE AMERICAN SOLDIER—THE UNSUNG HERO

With your permission, I would like to ask any person who has served in any branch of our armed forces to kindly stand up and be recognized. Please join me as we honor them and thank the Lord for their services to this great nation. (Please be seated).

September 11, 2001 was a terrible day in the history of our nation. It ranks right up there with December 7, 1941, which is a date that will live in infamy. These dates are in the “team picture” of terrible events that have marred the history of our country. In this picture are events like the assassination of Presidents, natural disasters and explosions of space shuttles. These are the kind of moments that bring us back to understand that we are mortal. They shake us to the core. They remind us that the life we live is not fully ours. For events like these, everyone alive at the time remembers what they were doing; and where they were when they happened.

But at the same time these horrible events also have some “silver lining” blessings. One of those silver linings that came out of 9/11 was the appreciation for the “unsung hero.” It was there for the first time in a long time the people of our nation appreciated those nameless faces that make a habit of running in when every other sane human being is running out. The single day in history when more firefighters, police officers and EMT’s died in the line of duty. On that day, too, all of our military personal—Navy Seals, Air-force pilots, Marines, Army and National Guard soldiers were called upon to protect our shores, our borders and air space against the tyranny that was attacking us. These events caused a nation to reflect and thank God for those who do those “unsung” heroic things that make sure that life and liberty, people and property, church and community are protected.

The unsung heroes of our nation go back more than a decade, even more than a century, all the way back to the founding: the American Revolution. The American Revolution was a movement of unsung heroes. Our nation won two World Wars by the efforts of unsung heroes that went by the names of G.I Joe and Rosie the Riveter. And all this happens even to this day. Nameless faces still serve in those underappreciated and yet necessary tasks that make our homes, communities and world safe!

It is the American Soldier who rises up and wears the uniform and stand sentry to make sure that our borders and buildings, our homes and hearts are protected against the evil foe. And who is the American Soldier? The Average age of our solider is 20 ½ years old. He/she is the brightest and the best of our nation. He/she is tall or short. He is a man or a woman. He is your father; mother, brother, sister, cousin, nephew and niece. He/she is a volunteer. They are many but an army of one. Some of them you know and others you don’t. But it is the American Solider the unsung hero who makes it possible for us to live in freedom. You know that there are no freedoms, without those willing to fight for them. And our American Solider has been fighting to keep Freedom alive ever since the inception of this nation. PAUSE.

Benny Hochman a Nazi concentration camp survivor in his book From Hell To Here stated: “I love the American Soldier for all that he stands for…” How right he is. The American Soldiers are fearless men and women who put on the uniform every day to make freedom possible. He/she is a soldier, sailor, airman, guardsman and marine. He can use his body like a weapon and his weapon as part of his body. He can take a life or he can save a life because he has been so remarkably well trained. And when the soldier wears the uniform and leaves homes, he/she knows they are is not going on a vacation, but rather into harms way, into a mortal combat; knowing full well that some of them will not return home.

I, as a former foreigner but proud to be an American citizen, know the meaning of that word and how precious FREEDOM is. The American Soldier this unsung hero leaves family, home, community and church and heads off to distant land to keep freedom alive. It is the American Solider the unsung hero that we honor today.

You will find the American Soldier serving both at home and abroad: You will find them throughout our land staking sandbags to stop flooding, rescuing people from tornados and hurricanes or building bridges to name a few. But they do more; they liberated many from the concentration camps in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. They protected many in Lebanon and Egypt. They fought in Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan and other places. The American Soldier has been standing up for Freedom ever since the founding of this great nation. Today, we the new generation ought to Stand up for Freedom: It is worth fighting for.

Sometimes we forget that freedom is everyone’s responsibility. You never know how precious it is until you lose it. My hope and prayer is that the sacrifices borne by so many.........will spawn and fulfill the promise of this great nation. A nation, that rose from the ashes of the Revolutionary War and became the mighty symbol of freedom for the whole world. A nation born with the sweat and blood of fearless young men and young women who fought to keep our flag flying high. A nation that continues to raise up mighty, massive, moving men and women who are willing to sacrifice limb and life for its liberty. No wonder this is the greatest nation in the world. You ought to be proud of it. You ought to bleed for it. You ought to die for it. Is it any wonder that many people want to come and live here?

I came to this country at age 16 to seek a better life. Some of you among us here today have done the same. Some of your parents or grandparents left everything and crossed the ocean to make a new life—a life that is possible because of the American Soldier the Unsung Hero. PAUSE.

Travel to New York Elis Island and you will see the great symbol of Freedom—Lady Liberty. On the platform of Lady Liberty are these words: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me”. What makes it possible for the masses, the poor and destitute to come to our shores? The American Soldier the Unsung Hero.

But if you want to see the GREATEST Symbol of Freedom, this is not found in the American Flag or Lady Liberty in New York; instead travel to Calvary, and see the cross towering high above all. On that cross, the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled His Words “Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends”. (John 15:13). Jesus willingly laid down His life to free us from the tyranny of the Evil Foe-Satan, and death and hell. That is what it means to be free indeed. And that is why all the masses are welcomed into His bosom. PAUSE.

Young people, and some you who are not so young, the next time you see an American Soldier walk up to him/her and thank them for serving our nation. When you see the stars and stripes raised high salute it. This is the symbol of a nation made free. I, as your speaker can not force you to do these things. I can not command you to obey me. But I hope that you listen and listen well.

This nation is worth fighting for. This nation has given you a hope and a home. This nation is a nation that stands for the poor and hungry, the downtrodden and destitute. It is our privilege and responsibility to fight to keep freedom alive. It is not just the American Soldier’s responsibility but every American Citizen because this is our nation- The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. PAUSE.

Permit me to introduce you to one of these Heroes: Richard Naasz, the father of a Pastor friend of mine Terry Naasz (from Brookings, SD). He was a quiet man of medium height, and looking at him you would never suspect he was a hero. But he was twice combat wounded, both times severely, and he stated that as a sergeant, he refused a battlefield commission to be a lieutenant, which would have taken him off the front lines, because he promised his men he would get them home alive. America’s real heroes don’t flaunt what they do; they quietly go about their day to day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often, they are the ones you’d least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happed. This genteel and quiet family man didn’t even share this information with his family; until the pastor who preached his funeral sermon informed them about it. Richard would never speak of his experiences and people never knew how long he served on the front lines (for over a hundred days) but it was because of unsung heroes like Richard Naasz that we won WWII.

Every American citizen is blessed because he is protected and represented by our brightest and best—the American Soldier the Unsung Hero. For all of us here are Americans. This is what we do as Americans—rise to the task before us. We care for the needs of our people, protect them, and provide them the best that life can offer. We ought to be proud of this nation. I am sick and tired of people who complain about this country. If you don’t like this country THEN LEAVE. We should thank the Lord, Jesus Christ every day that we live here.

We should thank every day the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Bible says, is the Mediator of every good gift—including the precious gift of freedom (1Timothy 2:5). Memorial Day is a time to remember the noble sacrifices behind our freedom. Won’t you, then, today, join me in thanking God for the American Soldier the Unsung Hero today? I hope you always do. For after all, the freedom and the liberty we have, has been born on the wings of these unsung heroes our fearless men and women. Some are with us today, while others have sacrificed their lives so that you can be gathered here and celebrate the freedoms, rights, and blessings of our beloved land—The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Will you please join me in a word of prayer?

Heavenly Father, today we remember those who have served our country with honor and devotion, especially those who have given their lives. We praise You for all the blessings that we enjoy as a result of their sacrifice, including peace, liberty, security, and the freedom we have to worship You. We implore you to keep our young brave men and women who are serving today safe and bring them home to their loved ones soon. We also, ask You to use us as Your instruments of peace and love as we serve You and others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.