Greeting Holy People of God,We are Christians. We are Lutherans of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are Children of God. We are citizens of the United States of America. We live in a country where we can freely worship God
.Wednesday, November 11 is Veteran’s Day. It is not a religious holy day. It is a national holiday to honor all U.S. military veterans. Historically Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day. When the hostilities of WW I ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. President Wilson proclaimed it in 1919, and it became a federal holiday in 1938. It was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor veterans of all wars.
I hope you will remember this day and the freedom we have in this nation. We live with a dual citizenship belonging to God’s kingdom and belonging to this nation. We give thanks to those who gave their service to this nation and our freedoms. Hear a couple of their stories to encourage you.
When Pearl Harbor was bombed, one of the Americans who volunteered to serve his country was Bob Feller. Bob was a 23-year-old pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, a phenomenon who had already pitched a no-hitter and won 107 games in the Major Leagues.
Bob was reaching his peak years as an athlete, but he gave up those years to shoot down planes in the Pacific. When he returned to baseball after serving his country, Bob went on to throw three no-hitters, 12 one-hitters, and win 266 games.
But his years of military service—during which he could have won another 80-100 games—cost Bob much of the fame he deserved. When baseball fans elected the All-Century Team in 1999, Bob and his 266 victories were ignored in favor of two other pitchers. Some suggest Feller may be the most underrated baseball player of all time.
Feller was once asked if he regretted his wartime service. “No,” he said, “I’ve made many mistakes in my life. That wasn’t one of them." (Submitted by Chris Stroup, Based on “Overrated, Underrated,” (September 2001) and the Bob Feller Museum website; submitted by Kevin A. Miller, Vice President, Christianity Today International.)
A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital. “You have lost an arm in the great cause,” he said. “No,” said the soldier with a smile. “I didn’t lose it–I gave it.”
Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to honor those who serve and sacrifice for our country. As the Veteran’s Memorial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville reminds us, “All gave some…Some gave all…”
At Iowa City’s ped mall on the north side of the Graduate Hotel there will be a 10:45 am “Assembly” on Nov.11 by VRP bugler Ross Porch and at 11:00 am bells announce the Armistice with remarks by Patrick Kearns, president of ASGE #2547, representing workers at the Iowa City VA Health Care System and a free lunch will be provided by Veterans for Peace.
I invite you to take what we learned from our holy day, All Saints Day, a time to remember those who have died and the promise of resurrection and make some connections with this national holiday celebrating our veterans, their service, their sacrifice, their willingness to give of themselves for the larger purposes of this nation. Reflecting on the service and sacrifice of our armed forces may help us to live more fully in this nation putting our gifts and talents to God’s use. Reflect on the things you give yourself to and what you are willing to make sacrifices for while reflecting on how God walks with you. Let us encourage one another.
Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,
Pastor Connie Spitzack
