Honor Our Veterans

-November 11, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Then the king said to his servants, ‘Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?’”

(2 Samuel 3:38).

Abner served as Saul’s Chief Commander for many years. He was very well respected by all those in Israel and Judah. He was a very skilled and loyal military man. After Saul’s death, he made Saul’s son Ishbosheth king over Israel, while David reigned over Judah. He got angry with Ishbosheth for criticizing him for taking one Saul’s concubines named Rizpah. He then switched sides and supported David to be king over all Israel.

Joab was the Chief General over David’s army. He was a very cruel, calculating man who killed several good men, including Abner, David never wanted Abner to be killed, but because Abner had killed Joab’s brother in battle, Joab took revenge on him. David calls Abner, “a prince and a great man.” All who have served our country are true heroes and deserve the highest honors. To me, all our veterans are great men and women.

There are three ways we can honor those who served our nation in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and our newest branch, Space Force: We should pray for them, we should appreciate them, and we should support them with our funds, help, and other provisions.

We should of course support all our troops, active and retired. But on this special day we single out Veterans. They did so much for us and we need to do more for them. Veterans Day always falls on the eleventh day of November each year. The first celebration using the term Veterans Day took place in Birmingham, Alabama in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized “National Veterans Day,” which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans. It was held on November 11, then designated Armistice Day, the day World War I ended. President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill sponsored by Representative Ed Rees of Kansas and passed by Congress on June 1, 1954, changing the name to Veterans Day, a federal holiday.

• Pray for our veterans – Every American, young or old should pray for our veterans still living, and remember those who have died. Many veterans are buried at the National Cemetery At Arlington in Washington D.C. There also many veterans cemeteries throughout the country. Normally a small American flag is placed on their graves. We as Christians should pray for them all the time, not just once a year.

• Appreciate our veterans – We can do this by personally thanking the veterans we know or come into contact with. They deserve it. They fought and served to preserve and protect our freedom. It is also good to attend veterans parades or other memorial events.

• Support our veterans with our funds, help, and other provisions – Sadly, so many veterans suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), are homeless, or addicted to alcohol or drugs. Many veterans, in large numbers, even take commit suicide. They need our help and our donations in so many ways. There are several organizations that support our veterans, but much more can be done. They need the best medical, dental, and vision care our country can give them.

Let us then take time today to pray for and honor our veterans. May we never forget their sacrifice and service for our country. Have a blessed Veterans Day. Stay safe and healthy.

In support of our veterans, young and old,

Dean