Remember their sacrifice.

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they

protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they

perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our

Lord and Savior. Amen."

Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine &others

deployed in harm's way,

Prayer is the very best one!

PSALMS 91
 

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
 

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
 

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
 

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
 

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
 

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
 

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
 

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
 

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
 

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
 

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
 

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
 

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
 

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
 

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
 

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.
 

 What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her nephew James' funeral (he was serving our country in Iraq):

"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas. The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though inappropriately longwinded) Baptist preacher There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot.

However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts.

When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4H club or something, but it continued .... for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children.

The military presence.. at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard which attended James, and some who served with him ... was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness.

Taken from an email:  Soldier's Funeral, Texas Style.  August 2005

The Faces of War  Attempt at writing about emotional response I had to working around a bunch of getting-ready-to-deploy National Guardsmen in North Carolina.   Paul.