Date: 11/12/2008
<br>Author: Devin Pickard
<br>Title: Thank you vets!
<br><br>Today, Tuesday, November 11,  marks the annual observation of Veterans Day…..a time to honor all the American men and women who have served our country during wars. Veterans Day originated as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. It became an annual observance in 1926 when Congress passed a resolution, and a national holiday began soon after in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the holiday's name to Veterans Day in 1954. Since then, it has evolved into a national day when citizens thank living military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation.<br>  <br>According to the census bureau, there are some 23.6 million military veterans living in the United States today.  In fact, there is probably a good chance that there will be many who will read this bulletin who are either veterans themselves or at the very least know someone who is.  The Fairfield Church is blessed to have a number of veterans in its midst on a weekly basis.  No doubt, there are many other churches in our area who could say the same thing.  It shouldn’t seem a surprise that many of Christ’s followers dare to walk literally in his footsteps.  It was Christ himself who said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  (John 15:13)  Soon after speaking these words, the Son of God lived them out by going to the cross for all of mankind.  He put those words into action, as many of his modern day followers are willing to do even today.  Just a few weeks ago, a number of men and women left their homes in our little community to travel over 6700 miles to Iraq.  Some were making the trip for the first time, while others were traveling there for the second time or even more.  But, regardless of how many trips these brave souls have made to the hot sand, each journey is made for the same reason…..others.<br><br>You see, America’s finest are not traveling all those miles to get bonus airline points…..they aren’t going over there to get a killer tan…..and they certainly are not headed over the big pond to build the world’s largest sand castle.  No, they have much bigger fish to fry.  They are traveling over there for you and me……just maybe so we won’t have to, or even more so for many of us, so our children or grandchildren won’t have to.  I don’t think there is a soul among us who does not pray for the end of the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places of hostility all around the globe.  But even if that were to happen, most would probably agree that another war would be on the horizon somewhere else just around the corner.  When human beings are thrown into the equation together, invariably they become unsettled in one way or another…..tempers flare…..opinions get stated….feelings get hurt…..the first shot gets fired…..and then “its on”.  But we can rest assured, just as surely as there are more battles on the horizon, there will always be those who will follow the way of the courageous and brave into the cross-hairs of turmoil….and once again, they will do it so we won’t have too.<br><br>Let’s make it a point to thank a veteran today.  Better yet, hug their neck….buy their lunch…..send them a card…..bake them some cookies.  There is nothing any of us could ever do to repay veterans or their families for all that they have laid on the line for us…...but we could sure at least try. <br><br>GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR HER<br>Go the extra mile - Devin