I have a friend who is a former Marine. In 2003, in Iraq, he was hanging on the side of a tank that went airborne. He landed in the sand and the tank landed on him. Because of the give of the sand and the protection of his body armor, he was not killed. He did, however, suffer major internal damage. He was flown to our base in Spain and spent time hospitalized there, and then came home and spent more time at Bethesda. He insists he was just doing his job. He came home with a Purple Heart. He never forgets that he was one of the lucky ones. I texted him one Memorial Day a few years ago to thank him for his service. He told me that his grandmother was the only other person who had said anything to him about it. It means the world to him to be thanked, and he rarely is.
Thank a veteran.
I went to Walmart the other day, and drove in behind a car with a license plate frame proclaiming that the driver was the proud parent of a U.S. Marine. I saw her walk in the store, and ended up right behind her getting a cart. I stopped her and thanked her for her sacrifice and her Marine's service. Her face just lit up. She was so pleased to be recognized and to have her son recognized.
Thank the active duty servicemen and women. Thank their families.
My dad was a reservist until he was forced to retire because of his age. He was nearly sent to Iraq after 9/11, but they sent a single man without children instead. When I lived with my parents at the time, our bishop was the adjutant general for the state of Utah. He had units in Iraq. He spent most of his weeks in Iraq with his men and women, and flew home every weekend just in time to be with us at church. I know he was sustained by the Lord in his service to his country and his God, and still it drained him. But he did it. Several days ago, two Idaho reservists were killed when an Apache went down in a training accident. Reservists are activated at home and abroad constantly, and serve without complaint.
Thank a reservist.
They each give their lives, even the ones who come home, because once they see combat they are never the same again. They stand for liberty all over the world. They stand for the freedoms that we all take for granted far too often. Thank them for it. It means a lot to be recognized, we all know that. No one likes their hard work ignored. Why would it be any different for them? It doesn't need to be elaborate or long-winded, simply thank them for their service. It means so much.
To all who serve their country, in so many capacities, thank you. Thank you for your service.
