Day 9

Christmas Candle

Turn your lights low and read by the glow of this candle, about the life of our Savior at this Christmas time. From the scriptures we read of His example and Christ like characteristics, His mission on each so divine. Strive diligently to emulate each of these wonderful qualities and follow the example of our Savior each day. Not only at this special giving season, but throughout the year remember Him and show love in every way.

December 1^st                    John 13:15                      Example

December 2^nd                   Matthew 18:4                   Humility
December 3^rd                    Colossians 3:13                Forgiveness
December 4^th                    1 Corinthians 16:14          Charity
December 5^th                    John 12:26                      Service
December 6^th                    James 2:18                      Faith
December 7^th                    Colossians 3:20                Obedience
December 8^th                    Matthew 5:9                    Peacemaker
December 9^th                    Mark 5:19                        Compassionate
December 10^th                  Luke 6:36                        Merciful
December 11^th                  Daniel 6:26                      Steadfast
December 12^th                  Matthew 5:16                   Good Works
December 13^th                  Leviticus 19:2                   Holy
December 14^th                  Matthew 5:48                   Perfect
December 15^th                  Matthew 11:29                 Meek
December 16^th                  Hebrews 6:15                   Patient
December 17^th                  John 15:13                      Friend
December 18^th                  Matthew 5:8                    Pure in Heart
December 19^th                  1 Corinthians 13:7            Endurance
December 20^th                  Proverbs 1:5                    Wisdom
December 21^st                  Romans 14:13                  Judge Not
December 22^nd                 John 15:12                      Show Love
December 23^rd                  Proverbs 4:11                  Leader
December 24^th                  Philippians 4:8                 Honest
December 25^th                  Luke 2:11                        Chosen

Beginning December 1^st read one scripture reference each day until Christmas. Light a candle as you read to remind you of Christ’s life and example.

Day 8

Christmas Alphabet Poem

Author Unknown

A is for Angels, appearing so bright, telling of Jesus that first Christmas night.
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host." Luke 2:13.

B is for Bethlehem, crowded and old, birthplace of Jesus by prophet foretold.
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." Micah 5:2.

C is for Cattle, their manger His bed, there in the trough where He laid His head.
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and
laid him in a manger." Luke 2:7.

D is for David and his ancient throne promised forever to Jesus alone.
"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne of his father David." Luke 1:32.

E is for East, where shone the bright star which Magi on camels followed afar.
"Behold, there came wise men from the east asking 'Where is the king of the Jews?'" Matthew 2:1,2.

F is for Frankincense, with myrrh and gold, brought by the Wise Men as Matthew has told.
"And when they had opened their treasurers, they presented unto him gifts gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:11.

G is for God, who from heaven above sent down to mankind the Son of His love.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

H is for Herod, whose murderous scheme was told to Joseph in a nocturnal dream.
"The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt... for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." Matthew 2:13.

I is for Immanuel, "God with us," for Christ brought man back to the Father's house.
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14.

J is for Joseph so noble and just, obeying God's word with absolute trust.
"Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife." Matthew 1:24.

K is for King. A true king He would be, coming in power and authority.
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, the King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation." Zechariah 9:9.

L is for Love that He brought down to earth God enfleshed in lowly birth.
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9.

M is for Mary, His mother so brave, counting God faithful and mighty to save.
"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Luke 1:38.

N is for Night, when the Savior was born for nations of earth and people forlorn.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." Luke 2:8.

O is for Omega, meaning "the last;" He's eternal present, future and past.
"I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22:13.

P is for Prophets, when living on earth foretold His redemption and blessed birth.
"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel." Numbers 24:17.

Q is for Quickly, as shepherds who heard hastened to act on that heavenly word.
"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." Luke 2:16.

R is for Rejoice. The sorrow of sin is banished forever when Jesus comes in.
"And you will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth." Luke 1:14.

S is for Savior. To be this He came; the angel of God assigned Him His name.
"She will bring forth a son, and you will call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21.

T is for Tidings of joy, not of danger, telling of Him who was laid in a manger.
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10.

U is for Us, to whom Jesus was given to show us the way and take us to heaven.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11.

V is for Virgin, foretold by the sage, God's revelation on prophecy's page.
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23.

W is for Wonderful, His works and His words, the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.

X is for Christ. It's X in the Greek, Anointed, Messiah, mighty, yet meek.
"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power." Acts 10:38.

Y is for Yes, called God's Yes in His Word; God's answer to all is Jesus the Lord.
"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." 2 Corinthians 1:20.

Z is for Zeal as it burned in Christ's heart. Lord, by thy Spirit to us zeal impart.
"And his disciples remembered that it was written, the zeal of your house has eaten me up." John 2:17.

Day 7

Christmas

 -          William Cullen Bryant

As shadows cast by cloud and sun

Flit o’ver the summer grass,
So, in thy slight, almighty one,
Earth’s generations pass,
And as the years, and endless host,
Come swiftly pressing on,
The brightest names that earth can boast
Just glisten and are gone.

Yet doth the star of Bethlehem shed

A luster pure and sweet;
And still it leads, as once it led,
To the Messiah’s feet.
O Father, may that Holy Star
Grow every year more bright,
And send its glorious beams afar
To fill the world with light

Day 6

As With Gladness Men Of Old

-          William Chatterton Dix

As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to Thee.

As with joyful steps they sped

To that lowly manger-bed,
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare,

At that manger rude and bare,
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

Holy Jesus, every day

Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they needed no star to guide,
Where no clouds They glory ride.

Day 5

A Soldier's Christmas
 

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan

Day 4

A Masonic Christmas

Twas the Night before Christmas

And down at the lodge
Not a gavel was stirring,
And in the hodge podge
Of Aprons and jewels
And Chairs East and West

You could savor the silence,
Most gladly divest
All metal and mineral,
It mattered not,
Since Christmas was nigh

And the coals were still hot

In the hearth of your home place
All Masons abed,
As vision of trestleboards
Danced in their head;

When up on the roof there arose such a clatter
Our Tyler jumped up to see what was the matter!
He picked up his sword and ran fast to the door,
Three knocks shook the panels – he wondered “What for?”
He answered the knocking with raps of his own,
And once the door opened he saw, with a moan
Of delight, it was Santa, all jolly and red
Except for one notable feature instead!

Upon his large finger he wore what we knew

Was compass and square on a background of blue!
“Why Santa!” he shouted and lowered his blade,
“I see you’re a Mason!” the Tyler relayed.

He looked toward the Master’s most dignified chair

And said, voice near trembling, “Most Worshipful there
Is a Gentleman properly clothed at the gate!”
The Master replied, “Let’s allow him – but wait!
You tell me a Gentleman, but I don’t see
His apron beneath that red suit. Can it be
Our visitor hasn’t been properly raised?”
Must we offer a test that is suitably phrased?”

“I do beg your pardon,” ol’ Santa said quick

As he pulled up his coat and display not a stick
Nut a cane with engraving, two balls did appear
And oh, what and apron, he wore and held dear!

Adorned like the Master’s, complete with a sign

Of “Lodge Number One, the North Pole” on one line!
“Now let this man enter,” the Master declared,

And once in the Lodge room, the Brethren all stared,

For Santa was wearing a jewel not seen
For many a century – there in between
The fur of his coat and the splendid red collar
Gleamed two golden reindeer that shone line a dollar!

“It’s Donner and Blizten, who I must confess

Are actually images brought from the West
By my Warden, a craftsman like none in the world!”

And with a great laugh from his bag he unfuried

An ear of fine corn, and some oil from the East,
“My friend I have plenty.  Tonight we will feast
On all that is good! We are Masons, kind sir!”

As presents and promises flew from his sack!

This Santa, a Mason, showed he had a knack
For making this Christmas the best you could glean,

And soon even Deacons were laughing. They’d seen

On this very night only happiness reigned!
This jolly Saint Nicholas quickly explained
That only a Mason could be so inclined
To make all kids happy, make all people find
A Chistmas so special. Yes, Santa was right!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a god night!

Arthur – Clayton L Wright

Day 3

A Christmas Story

It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it. Overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma. The gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son, Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner city church, mostly black. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. But as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn’t acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.”

Mike loved kids, all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That’s when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.

On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years.

For each Christmas, I followed the tradition, one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn’t end there.  You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.  Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the three for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope.

Mike’s spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us. May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always.

“There is nothing so healing to oneself as to heal another.”

Author Unknown

Day 2

A Candy Maker’s Witness

A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the “Good Shepherd” with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like sheep have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat lain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the scouring Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the bloodshed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became know as the Candy Cane – a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who “have eyes to see and ears to hear.” I pray that this symbol will again be used to witness the Wonder of Jesus and His Great Love that came down at Christmas and remains the ultimate and sominate force in the universe today.

-          Author Unknown

Sorry this is a little late

Christmas Stories Day 1

12 Days of Christmas

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffles us. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

 

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

 
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

 
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now you know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone 

A Gluten Free Blog

I recently discovered a great website / blog for gluten free items. Receipes, guidance, etc.

http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/

OES Community Sale Today

So for my first booth of my own doing, it went pretty well. I have worked other peoples' booths many times over but never one of my own work. I have 1 table split in half. 1 part was crafts I have been making over time and the other part was Brownies.

I sold small pieces of home made brownies of my own recipes. 1 was white chocolate, macadamia nut, cranberry brownie. Another was rainbow sprinkles with almond flavoring. 1 was cinnamon with espresso. Another was was white chocolate, macadamia nut with hazelnut frosting. The one I sold out of was S'more: vanilla wafers, walnuts with chocolate marshmallow frosting.

The next OES Community Sale is March 24th, 2012. It is a Saturday and will be at the same place: Mt Morah Lodge, Henderson Masonic Lodge, 480 Greenway, Henderson, NV 89015.

It was a lot of fun and exhausting working a booth on your own. No help setting up the canopy or table but a friend did help me take down the canopy which was nice. They had a raffle for the vendors who signed up today for the next community sale, their spot would be free and I won!! So I will be doing the same thing again but between now and then I will get another table (so the brownies could be on their own table). I will do the S'mores one again and I will work on some others people might enjoy more.

Cemetery Watchman

-      Author Unknown



My friend Kevin and I are volunteers at a national cemetery in Oklahoma and put in a few days a month in a slightly larger uniform.

Today had been a long, long day and I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey’s and have a cold one. Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 16:55, five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun, Oklahoma summertime was a bad as ever – the heat and humidity at the same level – both too high.

I saw the car pull into the drive, ’69 or ’70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail’s pace. An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a can and sheaf of flowers – about four or five bunches as best as I could tell.

I couldn’t help myself. The though came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: ‘She’s going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I’m ready to get out of here right now!’ But for this day my duty was to assist anyone coming in.

Kevin would lock the ‘In’ gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokey’s in time.

I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in Marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began this watch at the cemetery.

I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk; she looked up at me with an old woman’s squint.

Ma’am, may I assist you in any way? She took long enough to answer.

‘Yes, Son, Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.’

‘My pleasure, Ma’am, (well, it wasn’t too much of a lie).

She looked again, ‘Marine, Where were you stationed?’

‘Vietnam, Ma’am, ground pounder, ’69 to ’71.’

She looked at me closer. ‘Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine, I’ll be quick as I can.’

I lied a little bigger, ‘No hurry, Ma’am.’

She smiled and winked at me. ‘Son, I’m 85 years old and I can tell a lie from a long way off, let’s get this done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name’s Joanna Wieserman, and I’ve a few Marines I’d like to see one more time.’

‘Yes, Ma’am, at your service.’

She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flower bunches out of my arm, and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn’t quite make out. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918.

She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X. Davidson, USMC: 1943.

She went up to the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC: 1944.

She paused for a second and more tears flowed. ‘Two more Son, and we’ll be done.’

I almost didn’t say anything but ‘Yes Ma’am, take your time.’ came out.

She looked confused, ‘Where’s the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have lost my way.’

I pointed with my chin, ‘That way, Ma’am.’

‘Oh!’ she chuckled quietly. ‘Son, me and old age ain’t too friendly.’

She headed down the walk I’d pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman, USMC: 1968 and the last on, Darrel Wieserman, USMC: 1970. She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn’t make out and more tears flowed.

‘Ok, Son, I’m finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home.’

‘Yes, Ma’am, if I may ask, were those your kinfolk?’

She paused, ‘Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were my sons. All killed in action, all Marines.’

She stopped. Whether she had finished, or couldn’t finish, I don’t know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully.

I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting  by the car.

‘Get to the ‘Out’ gate quick. I have something I’ve got to do.’

Kevin started to day something but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get is there, down the service road fast. We need to beat her. She hadn’t made it around the rotunda yet.

‘Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost, follow my lead.’ I humped across the drive to the other post.

When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate. I called in my best gunny’s voice: ‘Tehenhut! Present Haarms!’

I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye – full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud.

She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice far beyond the realm o most.

I am not sure but I think I saw a salute returned from the Cadillac.

As a final thought on my part let me share a favorite prayer:
          ‘Lord, keep our service men and women safe whether they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us.’

Let’s all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy. Amen.