70th ANNIVERSARY

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 is the 70th anniversary of a tragic day in American history.
It is the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.

I confess I don't recall it as I wasn't born yet.
Often, in later years I've thought about, but never asked, how my parents must have felt on that day.

They were about to welcome their first child two months later. I'm sure they were uneasy, not knowing what would happen in the coming months or years.

It became a time of cohesiveness. Americans stood shoulder to shoulder to fight an enemy that would dare to harm the homeland.

Young men by the thousands, enlisted in the military. Women went to work in factories to build the ships and supplies needed to fight two theaters of war. Brave women pilots took to the air to ferry supplies

Many items were rationed. There were blackouts in the neighborhoods.
America stood as one nation, and yes, under God, for in those times people turned to God. They knew not what would happen and trusted Him, that His will would prevail.

America lost thousands of her young men and women in World War II. The prime of her population gone, yet she went forth and persevered.

Many years later, I had the privilege of visiting the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It was a solemn experience. As I looked over the railing I saw small bubbles of oil spurting through the water.

What an eerie feeling, that 46 years later oil still seeped from the graves of our brave warriors. No doubt it continues today.

One has to wonder what this country learned from that "day in infamy", as President Roosevelt called it.
Have we learned to be prepared? For there is always an enemy lurking about ready to pounce at any time.

September 11, 2001 is a grim reminder of it. Again, the nation came together, and filled the churches once more. However, it didn't last long and it is becoming a distant memory to many.

We must never forget what so many sacrificed and continue to do until this day, to protect our homeland and our rights and way of life.
But yet, so many are willing to throw away the many rights we have taken for granted.

If you don't believe it, look around and see how God has been taken out of our lives, especially at this time of year when we celebrate Jesus' birth.

Tomorrow, stop, take a moment and say a prayer, thanking God for those who willing went forward and said, "I will go, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with my brother to fight the enemy that wants to destroy my country, whether it be from within her borders or outside."

The next time you see someone in the military, thank them for their service and watch the humble smile that appears on their face. Especially, thank a WW II vet. Sadly we are losing many of them everyday.

May God continue to bless America.