Veterans Day, prompted me to remember and give thanks for the military service of my father, uncles, cousins and friends. They stood in the breach and protected our lives, our property, and our liberty. Americans owe all of those who have served a great debt.
The size of that debt is made especially apparent when we consider the numbers.
One source estimated that about 57 million have served in the military in our nation’s history. Demographers tell us that we are approaching a total of about six hundred million Americans who have ever lived. Ninety percent of all Americans, living and dead, owe a great debt to the roughly ten percent who have served in our military.
On Memorial Day we honor those who died while in military service. The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that, going back to the American Revolution, about 1.2 million Americans have died in military service, half of those on the battlefield.
Two-tenths of one percent of all Americans have died in military service, one-tenth of one percent dying on the battlefield. As a member of the ninety-nine percent plus enjoying the benefits of their sacrifice, I am astounded by my good fortune and moved to kneel in prayer in gratitude.
Dear God, our natural response when danger threatens is to run away and hide. I give you thanks for those among us who fight that urge and stand up to grapple with the threat. They stand in the breach when our defenses fail. They offer to give up their lives and many of them do so, with many more suffering physical and other ailments for a lifetime. Help our leaders to be wise in putting our citizens in danger, limiting that service to occasions when all other methods fail and when love calls us to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Bless our service members in their service and support them throughout their time of duty and ever after. Remind all of us to remember, remember, remember … and give thanks!
Alan Baughcum
11/25/19