Veteran's Service at Community Park

Introduction

This afternoon we salute you the brave men and women of the United States armed forces who have given so much of your time, your tears, your perspiration, and your blood protecting our freedom in this nation.You have spent countless hours training in harsh environments. You have spent weeks, months, and years away from family members. You have missed seeing children born and attending funerals of loved ones. Many of you have witnessed things you would rather forget and have done things you never knew you could. You have spread the message of freedom both near and far. We say thank you this afternoon.

Family Legacy

While I myself have never served with the United States armed forces, many in my family have. Two of my grand-uncles served in Europe during the Second World War and my father, whom I only reconnected with right before his death, served in the Navy during Vietnam on the USS Intrepid. They came home, and so did you. Yet, many didn’t. Many gave the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefields of Europe, the Pacific, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and countless other places. Some are still MIA after decades. Recently we lost 13 members of the armed forces as they worked to evacuate those in Afghanistan at the airport. These are the names of those 13 who gave the ultimate sacrifice on Thursday, August 26, 2021.

U.S. Marine, Sgt Johanny Rosario (25)

U.S. Marine, Cpl Hunter Lopez (22)

U.S. Marine, LCpl Kareem Nikoui (22)

U.S. Marine, LCpl Rylee McCollum (20)

U.S. Marine, LCpl Jared Schmitz (20)

U.S. Marine, LCpl David Lee Espinoza (20)

U.S. Navy, Maxton Soviak (20)

U.S. Marine, SSgt Taylor Hoover (31)

U.S. Marine, Cpl Daegan Page (23)

U.S. Army, Ryan Knauss (23)

U.S. Marine, Cpl Humberto Sanchez (22)

U.S. Marine, Sgt Nicole Gee (23)

U.S. Marine, Ricky Thompson (21)

They gave the ultimate sacrifice with their lives as many of your fellow soldiers did. 20 critically injured. Remember family and those treating them.

Jesus Christ the Ultimate Soldier / Ultimate Sacrifice

When I think of the Ultimate Soldier and the person who gave the Ultimate Sacrifice I think of Jesus Christ. He fought for me and He fought for you. He fought for freedom not from an oppressive government or dictatorship, but for my eternal freedom in Him and your eternal freedom. He would do this by laying down His life willing.

On the last night with His friends as they walked from the Last Supper He said

John 15:13 NKJV

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

This great love that He had for them and for us would be realized only in a few hours later when He would be arrested, put on trial, beat with rods, a crown of thorns shoved on His head, and forced to carry a hunk of wood to a place where spikes of metal would be jabbed into His wrists and feet. Then He would be raised in the air where He would begin to suffocate. Yet, He willing allowed this to happen, because of His great love for us and His desire to give us freedom.

You see we are slaves. Slaves to something called sin. I messed up, you messed up.

Romans 3:23 NKJV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 NKJV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Since we were in captivity and there was no way we could free ourselves from this oppression, God came as the soldier of Jesus Christ to free us from sin, Satan, and the eternal punishment.

Colossians 2:13–15 NKJV

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He proved His love not just with words, but with actions. You as soldiers have proved your love for your nation by putting yourself out there to bring freedom. Jesus proved His love for me and for you by dying on the cross. Taking every sin past, present, and future on Himself. He even offered forgiveness to those who were killing Him!

Luke 23:34 NKJV

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Yet, some still like to stay in slavery and in bondage. Jesus doesn’t force anyone to come to Him. It is a free gift that we must accept. Each one of us have to make that choice. Freedom in Christ or Slavery to Satan and Sin

Romans 10:8–13 NKJV

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Conclusion

So this afternoon, I want to once again say THANK YOU for your sacrifice to our nation. You have brought HOPE to millions in the world. You have brought FREEDOM to millions as well. It was not in vain. We are better in this country because of your long hours, sweat, tears, and blood that was given for the Red, White, and Blue! You are a blessing to this country and this world. Thank You. As we close out this morning I would like to close in prayer as we remember all the soldiers from the Revolutionary War through today that have sacrificed for the freedom in our nation.

Revolutionary War

War of 1812

Civil War

Spanish American War

WWI

WWII

Korea

Vietnam

Operation Desert Storm

War on Terror

And many other operations known and unknown

Thank You, Lord God for the sacrifices of the soldiers and for the Ultimate Soldier, Jesus Christ who bought freedom and paid for it with His own blood.