Post Veterans Day Thinking

Put Simply……THANK A MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER, past or present, WHEN YOU SEE THEM. I don’t care if you agree with any war we have ever been in or what you think politically….IF YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR THE FREEDOM YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW TO VOICE YOUR OPINION, no matter how wrong you may be, THANK A SOLDIER.

I was just thinking about a summer trip we took our seniors in our church youth ministry on, Kingdom Bound ’08. What a blast. But then I started thinking about how we got there in the first place.

We had a successful fund raiser for the trip that a local large grocery store was gracious enough to allow us to use a section of their entrance to set up shop for the day. It was a bake sale we had. All the goods were donated by members of our church and some parents of the teens. We had about 2 tables sets up and about 7 people there to staff the thing…yeah it was crowded.

Across the way was a small table and chair with a covering hanging from it, staffed by just 1 elderly gentleman. This gentleman just sat there and smiled at all that walked by. He was VETERAN and was representing the local VFW. I don’t know how he did financially. But he was very gracious and friendly and was enjoying watching our nutty teens and my (then) 2.5 year old daughter. He even came over for one of the baked goods, we were happily going to just give it to him, but he insisted that he pay for it and he even donated more for it. We expressed our gratefulness and offered him one of our larger tables to increase his presence once we could fit everything on one table, but he just smiled and politely refused. He was a true gentleman in every way.

I wish I thought of it then instead of just now, but it is because of men and women like him that we were even able to be there in the first place. It was because of the sacrificial service of his fellow soldiers that we are allowed to freely and openly meet together in this great land of ours. And it seemed that he was enjoying seeing just a small little bit of the fruit of his service.

And yet there are bills in the congress that are being debated that if passed would take away some of the freedom that he fought and lived for, and others fought and DIED for. Get involved in politics and know what is on the table, what is in the works, what YOUR tax money is being spent on, and voice or email or write your Congressman/woman telling them how you want them to vote and what stand you want them to take. This is their job, to accurately represent their people. HOW CAN THEY DO THAT IF NO ONE TELLS THEM???

Here is the main number to call to get in contact with your member of Congress;
You can also e-mail them as well visit this site to get started to find their e-mail address.

United States Senate
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Senate switchboard: 202-224-3121

United States House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov
House switchboard: 202-225-3121

United States White House
White House opinion line: 202-456-1111
White House switchboard: 202-456-1414

Don’t forget, even if you totally disagree with our current or next President, our Congress can override his law making decisions. NOTHING IS SET IN STONE. So be praying that our President makes the right choices.

THANK YOU TO ALL PAST AND PRESENT MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL!!!