This Tuesday on November 11 we celebrate Veterans Day. We remember our men and women in the armed forces who sacrificed so much through their dedicated service to our country. Through their unselfishness and dedication, they made it possible for us to enjoy the freedoms provided in our nation. We should appreciate their sacrifice and service in a special way and never take them for granted.
This past Friday on November 7th, the Johns Creek Veterans Association conducted a dedication and flag raising ceremony at the newly constructed Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk in Newtown Park. Many of our Veterans in the local area, and also some of our civic leaders, assisted in the planning and design of this memorial. Members of the Saint Brigid Council of the Knights of Columbus, many of whom are Veterans, spent countless days and hours assisting in the construction of the Memorial. The Memorial serves as a moving and visual reminder of the contributions made by our Veterans throughout the years. These unselfish men and women served in various branches of the armed forces. They served in different capacities. They had different responsibilities. They served for various lengths of time. Some toiled in the service in foreign lands such as Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Others toiled in the service here in the United States. All toiled in the service of a grateful nation.
The following Veterans Day Prayer written by Joanna Fuchs captures the essence of our appreciation for the sacrifice of our Veterans:
Dear Lord,
Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women
who gave their best when they were called upon
to serve and protect their country.
We pray that you will bless them, Lord,
for their unselfish service in the continual struggle
to preserve our freedoms, our safety,
and our country’s heritage, for all of us.
Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced,
for the sacrifices they made,
for their many different contributions
to America’s victories over tyranny and oppression.
We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them,
and we pray that you will watch over these special people
and bless them with peace and happiness.
In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.
As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that most of us have family members, relatives, friends, neighbors, or co-workers who served in the armed forces. They served us by serving our nation. We are invited to serve them in some small way by assuring them of our prayers, our gratitude, our appreciation, and our respect.