Veterans Day

Today, the day I write this blog, is November 11 and it is Veteran's Day in the U.S.A.  I always think of my father on this day since he served in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II.  My father joined the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1938 when he was 18 years old, just out of high school.  He was a ground mechanic assigned to London, England and was there during the Battle of Britain in 1940.  My Dad never talked much about the war, as was the habit of many in that generation, but what little he said was filled with praise and admiration for the many skilled Allied pilots who flew their bombing raids over Nazi Germany.  Dad saw many of these bombers shot up with gaping holes, but still flying as they returned to England from their bombing raids.  Like many vets who were lucky enough to return home when the war ended in 1945, he married Mahdeen I. Reissing of Midland, Texas (my mother) and, well, the rest is family history.  My Dad died of an unexpected heart attack in 1973 when I was only 15 years of age.  While I treasure the memories of my time with him and how he taught me to play golf, I always give thanks, for his service to his country every Nov. 11 on Veterans Day.  I know my Dad always gave thanks every Nov 11, and he never forgot those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, those who were not lucky enough to make it back home.

Today, I write this blog as both a Christian who has been blessed by veterans of faith with whom I share a world wide community; and as a U.S. citizen who has been blessed by veterans of this country with whom I share a life long heritage of freedom in government.  Let me encourage you, as both Christians and citizens who are living in the United States, to give thanks today, and throughout this month of November.  First, give thanks to God for allowing you to live in a country that protects your religious right to worship God according to the dictates of your own conscience.  Second, give thanks to a veteran, who put life on the line every day to protect these freedoms we now enjoy without question.  Many are the conflicts our veterans have fought in, from World Wars to Korea to Vietnam, to the Middle East and Afghanistan and most likely other places of military service that you and I are not even aware of: and of course, many are the soldiers now living and now serving who put their life on the line, even today, to protect these same freedoms.  We owe them our gratitude as well.  Always remember . .  . it's never too late to give thanks. 

Thank you God.  Thank you Veterans.

Dennis