Sacrifice and Service

A local church in our community displayed flags highlighting those that gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The display is both moving and humbling.

A picture of this was on the front page of our hometown newspaper this morning but viewing a picture does not give the full impact viewing it with your own eyes does. A camera can not do what the human eye can. At least not with my camera. 

I was deeply moved and plan to take my grandchildren to see this tomorrow. We take so much for granted. We enjoy the holiday and sometimes don't think about why we have a holiday.

Our minister at our church this morning highlighted one of our veterans that have given their lives for our freedom. I will share the contemporary story of a Navy Seal, Michael Monsoor that was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bush in  2008.  View link here.

Please take the time to read about his funeral below if you can't read all of the article.
Below is a clip from Wikipedia documenting a  battle in Iraq in 2006.

. A combined force of U.S. Soldiers, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy SEALs, and Iraqi Security Forces fought insurgents for control of key locations in Ramadi, including the Government Center and the General Hospital. Coalition strategy relied on establishing a number of patrol bases called Combat Operation Posts throughout the city.

Iraq War

U.S. military officers believe that insurgent actions during the battle led to the ]

U.S. Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the battle. On September 29, 2006, he threw himself upon a grenade which threatened the lives of the other members of his team.

Navy Seal Michael Monsoor was buried in San Francisco. This is the very moving account of his funeral procession that is one example of those that have served and given their lives for us. 

During the funeral, as the coffin was moving from the hearse to the grave site, Navy SEALs were lined up forming a column of twos on both sides of the pallbearers route, with the coffin moving up the center. As the coffin passed each SEAL, they slapped down the gold Trident,( the insignia of the Navy Seal) each had removed from his own uniform and deeply embedded it into the wooden coffin. For nearly 30 minutes the slaps were audible from across the cemetery as nearly every SEAL on the West Coast repeated the act.[8]

The display moved many attending the funeral, including President Bush, who spoke about the incident later during a speech stating: "The procession went on nearly half an hour, and when it was all over, the simple wooden coffin had become a gold-plated memorial to a hero who will never be forgotten.”

May we never forget those that have given their lives and served our country. May God continue to Bless America.