“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” Romans 13:7
Yesterday in my local church service, in honor of Veterans’ Day, the minister asked all of those who had served in our Armed Forces to stand to their feet.
And since I was one of the four ushers, who would soon take up the church collection, I was already standing, holding an offering plate, in the back of the church’s auditorium.
But upon hearing that the pastor wanted those who served in the military to stand, I quickly squatted down, in order that nobody in the congregation might mistakenly think I was numbered among those current and former veterans.
I had no intention of falsely claiming the honor to which these brave and noble men and women were rightly entitled.
I did not serve in the military.
I did not offer up my life on the altar of service to America. I did not take the chance that this service might possibly require the ultimate sacrifice.
But many others did.
Those men and women deserve every single bit of honor which the people of America direct their way.
We are all here because of them.
Perhaps there is nothing more despicable than the men who pretend to be Navy Seals, doing their best to convince others that they are deserving of the praise and respect which should be solely reserved for those who complete this brutal training to undertake these difficult and deadly missions for the US military.
Honor should only be rendered to those whom it is rightfully due.
On this day which we know as Veterans Day, I honor you members of the military, past or present, wartime or peacetime.
There is no way we can properly thank you for all you have done to purchase, preserve, and protect our freedom.
As Americans, each one of us is in your debt.
There are certainly many more things I could say to you on this special day. But neither pen and ink, nor the limited mind of man can adequately compensate you for all you’ve done for America.
Therefore, I will simply convey my heartfelt appreciation to you veterans in a pair of tiny but profound words: Thank you!
Image: Courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22711505@N05/7291485576/
