Veterans' Day

Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11, 2009

Today is a day set aside for remembering those who have served this United States of America and those who are serving yet today.

Both my children are scouts, and within each of their respective pledges they promise to serve “God and my country.” While some people argue that God and government should not be intertwined, I believe that within this promise to serve both God and country, we find the makings of the most dedicated citizenry. We are called to serve God by serving our neighbors, being Christ in our communities. We can also serve our neighbors by serving our country. By protecting the rights, lifestyle and religious freedoms we enjoy as Americans, our veterans have chosen to live lives of service. They show us by their example how we can serve both God and country.

My son’s Boy Scout troop has a Flag Program, whereby subscribers to the program will have a U.S. flag posted on their front lawn on each of the five “flag” holidays, Veterans’ Day being one of those holidays. I love this program, because it forces us to remember to honor our fallen heroes (Memorial Day), our flag (Flag Day), our country and our independence (July 4th), those who work (Labor Day) and our soldiers (Veterans’ Day). Hopefully it also reminds the other neighbors on the street to post their flag. How many of us would otherwise forget to post our flag in remembrance or respect?

Our veterans have felt a call to duty to protect the values and rights we take for granted everyday, among them freedom to worship. Our Bill of Rights “prohibits Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Let us not take for granted the value of their service. Did you post your flag today?