By GARY ANDREWS
Editor and Publisher

Having just returned from a Veteran’s Day program at one of our local schools, I am reminded about the sacrifices given by so many for America to be as great as she is and to be known as the land of the free.
Having served in a war zone, I can tell you first hand that this is a place where all soldiers depend on the hand of God to get them through. You hear many prayers being said, many verses of the Bible being repeated, and Bible reading taking place. The program I attended showed a clip of soldiers reading their Bible and saying their prayers.
Through the ages the American Soldier, through God’s grace and help, has preserved our great nation to be the number one country in the world.
In today’s society it seems that many Americans have forgotten what it takes to be a nation of free people who choose to worship and speak as they see fit. We are a democratic society because of the sacrifices made by our military men and women.
During my tenure in the military I lost two very close friends to enemy fire in Vietnam. When it came my turn to also go to Vietnam, I was scared as is every soldier who goes into a war zone. I was blessed and fortunate that I came home without a scratch, but I remember the words of Jose Narosky, when he said, “In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.”
I am a proud American and when I attend programs such as the one held at this school, it is great to see the faces of the children as they look across the audience and say thank you to the many veterans that came to be honored.
My hope is that with our country facing so much turmoil over issues that has made America strong, that these people will understand that God is in control and without him and His saving grace we would be just another nation looking for help from others.
Cynthia Ozick stated, “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve out gratitude.”
God Bless America and God Bless our brave men and women who are serving or have served to insure that we are one nation under God.
Prayer: Oh God, you have blessed us in so many ways. You have made America a strong nation because it was built on your principles and under your leadership. Thank you for loving us. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Deuteronomy 20:1-4; Monday - Psalm 27:1-6; Tuesday - Matthew 24:4-8; Wednesday - Isaiah 36:18-21; Thursday - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Friday - Numbers 21::31-34; Saturday - 1 Samuel 14:1-14.)