1000......

.......American troops have been killed in Afghanistan as the latest fatality happened today with the death of a US Marine. May God be with his family and friends, and comrades in arms, who continued their foot patrol after the attack. Also, may healing of body, heart, and mind come to those injured with this fallen Marine.

This Memorial Day weekend, may we remember not just this Marine, but all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in wars to defend America's freedom.

This freedom is not free. Most of us realize this.

Each day, I pray not only for those who make these sacrifices - including their families - of serving, but for those who think that those who serve knew the dangers going in and that the sacrifices are to be expected. May their eyes be opened and their hearts swayed to what is true.

And so I will say - yes, our men and women in uniform DID know the sacrifices...but they chose to volunteer anyway.

God bless them all, and those who wait.

Reveille, Retreat, and Taps.

Part of our job as Camp Hosts at the park is to make the rounds of the campgrounds to make sure that everything is ok. We have one of those golf cart type vehicles which Ron has to not only help with maintenance duties, but also to do these park checks. It's a huge savings that we don't have to use our truck for this. It's great for getting around - and this little vehicle zips in and out of places like nobody's business.

We came back from one of our trips around the park the other day and heard a wonderful sound. Retreat was being sounded at Fort Carson. It was the end of the "official" day, and we are blessed to hear this from our campsite here at the park.

In the morning, there is Reveille, which signals to the soldiers that it's time to line up for morning roll call. And while I would think most soldiers nowadays use alarm clocks, there's a definite "order" in this bugle call which reminds them before they even open their eyes that another day in the US Army is ahead of them. :)

And ~ of course ~ in the evening, there is Taps. Taps signals that all unauthorized lights are to be extinguished and it is the last call of the day. And of course, we know too well, that it is played at the end of a military funeral. It has, most assuredly, been played far too often in this last circumstance in America's history.

I decided to look up the various bugle calls, and what they mean....and was suprised to see there are so many of them.

Being able to hear all of these bugle calls in the morning, afternoon, or evening is somehow

a pleasant reminder of how well the Army takes care of it's own. They are structured for sure, but their soldiers are very important. But no matter whether it's "wake up", or "ok, you can go home now," or "it's time to rest," I think the most encouraging - though haunting - is the sound of Taps.

The last line of the first verse tell us all we need to know - about every moment of every day.

"All is well, safely rest, God is nigh."

Not only is the best military in the world taking care of America, but God is looking over us all. Especially those who serve.

This brings me peace.

Wounded Warriors



The past week was Armed Forces Week. In a city which is home to not just one military installation but five of them, I can tell you that they really know how to pay tribute to the Armed Forces. Even when I was shopping in SEARS yesterday, there was a benefit going on for the military as they raised money for the troops through customer donations. Every couple of minutes there would be an announcement from one or more of the cashiers saying there was a donation of x amount of dollars from his or her department. It gave me a good feeling as I walked through and listened to the thanks for the generosity of others toward those who serve.

But it was also the week for the Wounded Warrior Games. Men and women from all branches of he military - including the Coast Guard - were here for four days of friendly competition. Friendly, but fierce. And each athlete had a story - whether they sat on the gymnasium floor playing volleyball using the specially designed net, or doing laps in a swimming pool with artificial limbs powering them across the water, or scoring points on a basketball court. But the story wasn't in the handicap or injury, it was in each athlete's strength to overcome it all.
When I think of the fact that Ron and I have a daughter/soldier who will see the other side of an ocean with in a year, and a son in law/soldier who will soon travel to the sand for the 4th time, I can only look at these young men and women with respect for their courage and sacrifice. The fear that my children may be asked to sacrifice their well being, or more, is one of the things about this Two Star mom thing that never goes away, (another being pride).
And when I see these Wounded Warriors, I see that they do not want to be pitied, nor thought of as heroes. What they ask of their country is the chance to be equals - the hope that their superiors will consider them worthy to remain in the world's greatest military if they so choose.
They are scarred, yes. But who they are isn't in the scars - it's in their courage. It's in the desire in their hearts to be considered worthy to remain in their jobs in whatever branch they have been serving, and to keep whatever rank they hold. To be given the chance to prove who they really are didn't leave when they were injured, or when the PTSD came home with them.
Wounded Warriors? Perhaps on the outside - but the strength on the inside lets us see who they really are:
The very best.
God bless our troops wherever they may serve. And those who love them - that we might have just a small portion of their strength.