Thank You Veterans!

The primary school at which I teach  had it's annual Veterans Day assembly yesterday. Each year, veterans and active service men and women are invited to attend and be honored. The children learn about the branches of the military and why we should all be grateful to the individuals who've served our country to preserve our freedoms.  The interactive presentation included the audience reading the line, "Thank you veterans.  You are America's heroes"  after  brief introductions to each branch of the service. This year, a group of uniformed active military men and women also visited classrooms to greet the kids. Each year the soldiers seem to get younger and it hit me hard  as I sang the national anthem and looked at these brave young souls, that they could easily be my children or former students.  Always before, I'd thought of them as adults, and they are, but they also seemed so very young, children really, whose parents and communities have loved, taught, and nurtured. 

This Veterans Day, I'll once again be grateful for my freedoms, thankful to the men and women who have and are serving their country, and  disappointed in humanity that war still exists.  A verse of the hymn "The Church's One Foundation" comes to mind:

Mid toil and tribulation,  and tumult of her war, 

she waits the consummation  of peace forevermore; 

till, with the vision glorious,  her longing eyes are blest, 

and the great church victorious  shall be the church at rest.

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above, 

Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love; 

The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, 

That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; 

The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, 

The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

Though the road has bends and turns,

And my spirit suffers,

Humans fail,

Systems fail, 

Shadows fall.

But the ruts run deep,

Cut by the blood of faces above

And voices now silent.

But the message loud is heard

"Homeland, Homeland

Renew your youth,

Restore your soul."

Homeland The country that I love

Hold out your arms to me  

I strive for you and give you the best I hope to be  

May your wisdom be your armour 

Your compassion be your sword 

May your strength be forged with mercy 

Your courage lives restore  

Homeland The country that I love 

Forever reign supreme 

And when time stands still My homeland 

May heaven hold your dream  

My homeland 

Be my dream 

My hope  

Homeland

- Sir Cecil Spring Rice and Z. Randall Stroope