Memorial Service November 10th, 2009

Fort Hood Texas

Today, just one day short of Veteran's Day 2009 our Country paused for almost two hours to honor the thirteen Heroes who gave their lives at Fort Hood Texas on November 5, 2009.

There were several statements that captured my heart. One was a message that focused on "Trust" in our Military. They learn teamwork and trust each other. We as the citizens of this great country also "Trust" them to protect our way of life.

During the Memorial Service I also heard one speaker who focused on Holy Scripture, Isaiah Chapter six and he stated that our Nation's Heroes upon joining our Military answer the Call Of Our Country just as Isaiah answered God's Call to go and deliver a message to his people.

The Quoted Verse reads: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord Saying 'Whom shall I send?' And who will go for us? And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

I found this a very appropriate verse and I am confident that the mourners also found comfort in these words. The Men and Women who lost their lives on November 5, 2009 certainly answered the call of our Country.

The reading from Holy Scripture for this Memorial Service was also from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 40. The heading for this Chapter is entitled "Comfort for God's People."

This Chapter also was the source of several of the musical selections in "The Messiah" by George Frideric Handel. The versus for the Memorial Service were 26 through 31 which I will quote here:

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Prior to the Memorial Service the U. S. Army Band at Fort Hood played a series of songs that are very comforting. One was "Be Still My Soul," which is often used at funerals. The other that I recognized very quickly was "Beautiful Savior."

I am confident that these musical selections were also very comforting to those who had suffered such great loss last November 5, 2009.

Our President delivered a power speech which include a brief summary of each of these Heroes. As the Memorial Service concluded he also presented each Hero with a "Presidential Coin." I am confident that these coins will be of great treasure to the survivors of each of these Heroes.

This Memorial Service was certainly a great tribute to these Heroes. After I viewed this event on Television I took the opportunity to review my E-Mail messages. Among them was this fine message from a young Michael Alan Thiese. I will quote it here:

"As I sit here pondering the upcoming holiday.......sorry, sounding like my dad now. Anyway as I begin to think about the upcoming holiday I would like to encourage all of you to remember our veterans of the past, present and future. They make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and we owe them greatly for that. As many of you know I ride with the Patriot Guard Riders and this veterans day will be a bit tougher for alot of pople in the St.Louis area as we are participating in a full Military honors Funeral and Escort ride at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetary for a 23 year old soldier killed in Iraq last week. In closing I personally want to say thanks to all veterans for their services and sacrifices and I ask that the rest of you do that as well in the upcoming day. At 11:11 on Nov. 11 I ask all of you to take a moment of silence for those lost in battle or currently fighting for our freedoms that we all enjoy.

Mike "munk" Thiese
proud member of the Patriot Guard Riders"

As the Dad of Mike I could not be more proud of what he is doing. I certainly appreciate this message. I even obtained his permission to quote it here.

Have a Blessed Veteran's Day and always remember our Nation's heroes. As our President pointed out today, these are our Father's, our Mothers, Our Sons, our Daughters, our Sisters and our Brothers. I also add, these our our Neighbors and our Friends in every community in our great Nation.

Yes, every member of our Military currently serving and those who will serve are certainly our Heroes.

Thank You!!!