When the apostles heard that James and John had requested places of honor beside Jesus in his glory they became indignant but Jesus said to them “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” [Mk 10:42-45].

Service. The giving of one’s self for others is what Jesus taught and what he became man to do; it exemplifies what all followers of Christ are called to do, to serve others. Perhaps nowhere is this call to service expressed more honorably than in the humble duty performed by our nation’s veterans. Our cherished freedoms are and have been sustained and protected by the unselfish and often mortal service which has been given by those who have served and those who continue to serve. We must honor those who, as President Lincoln expressed so nobly at Gettysburg, “gave the last full measure of devotion” while recognizing and acknowledging the service of those who have served and remain among us as living testaments to the ideals of service to their fellow man.

Over fifty years ago, on May 12, 1962, General Douglas MacArthur spoke at West Point, speaking of Duty, Honor, and Country. His speech that day stands as perhaps the finest, most eloquent hymn to the ideal of service ever spoken. Midway through his speech he said “…reverently following your password of Duty, Honor, Country. The code which those words perpetuate embraces the highest moral laws and will stand the test of any ethics or philosophies ever promulgated for the uplift of mankind. Its requirements are for the things that are right, and its restraints are from the things that are wrong. The soldier, above all other men, is required to practice the greatest act of religious training—sacrifice. In battle and in the face of danger and death, he discloses those divine attributes which his Maker gave when he created man in his own image. No physical courage and no brute instinct can take the place of the Divine help which alone can sustain him. However horrible the incidents of war may be, the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life for his country, is the noblest development of mankind.”

We must honor and thank those men and women who have served and are serving in this nation’s military; we owe them a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice, a debt beyond measure. The price for our freedoms has been paid by those willing to serve and to give their last full measure of devotion.

One of the finest examples of service that I have ever had the honor to know is Col. John LaVoy, USMC (Ret.) who served his nation and her people through three wars. Happy 94^th birthday John.  We are proud to know you sir. Thank you for your service. Semper Fi, Sir, hoorah!