Memorial Day Sermon

Submitted by Angelo Lopez on Sun, 05/25/2008 - 12:39

This morning in my church service, we had a wonderful moment in my pastor's sermon to honor those who have fallen in the current Iraq War. In each of our bulletins, we had the names of 6 Iraqi soldiers who had died in Iraq and we were to say their names out loud and offer a silent prayer for them and their families and loved ones. After we did that, we recited a common prayer from page 488 of the Book of Common Prayer. I thought it was a nice tribute, to make individuals out of statistics. Here are the soldiers that I prayed for this morning, and the prayer from the Book of Common Prayer.

Matthew M. Murchison, 21, Army Private 1st Class, August 4, 2007 Independence, Missouri

Dustin S. Wakeman, 25, Army Sergeant, August 4, 2007 Fort Worth, Texas

Joey D. Link, 29, Air Force Technical Sergeant, August 5, 2007 Portland, Tenessee

Justin R. Blackwell, 27, Army Specialist, August 5, 2007 Paris, Tennessee

Jeremy S. Bohannon, 18, Army Private, August 5, 2007 Bon Aqua, Tennessee

Charles E. Leonard Jr., 29, Army Specialist, August 5, 2007 Monroe, Louisiana

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead: We give thee thanks for all thy servants who have laid their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence; and give us such a lively sense of thy righteous will, that the work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

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Angelo Lopez's picture

Thanks for your service Jim

Submitted by Angelo Lopez on Mon, 05/26/2008 - 10:20.

Thanks Jim for your service, and for helping veterans through your work as a chaplain. Your pastor has it right. The best way to honor veterans is to fight for peace and get Washington to understand the costs of war to the people who fight and the people we occupy.

Jim Ramelis's picture

Your Welcome Angelo

Submitted by Jim Ramelis on Mon, 05/26/2008 - 12:02.

You’re welcome for your comment Angelo.
I have found it hard at times to keep the idea of serving my country straight in my head, especially when I was younger. I didn't see Vietnam as a productive adventure. As I have grown older though, I realize that idealistic young people join or accepted their service when they got drafted , out of a spirit of serving their country, and doing something good and positive. It is not their fault that their government fails them. Some Iraqi and Afghanistan vets are having misgivings too. I have learned to not confuse the warrior with the war, though, and I hope others are learning that, too. Many Iraqi and Afghanistan are coming back with haunting memories, wondering why they did what they did, and having doubts, about it, as I did.

Jim Ramelis's picture

Veterans

Submitted by Jim Ramelis on Sun, 05/25/2008 - 14:24.

Thanks for thinking of the veterans , Angelo. I am a Disabled Veterans of America(DAV) chapter Chaplain and a Legion district level chaplain.I said some prayers yesterday at a long term care facility. There were several veterans in the facility and we gave them flowers and recognition. They and their relatives were so thankful.

My pastor this morning honored the veterans but prayed for peace and for Washington to see the path to it. I thought that was great.