On May 7, 1945, German forces surrendered to mark the end of the European Theater in WWII. On September 2, 1945, Japanese forces surrendered to end the Pacific Theater in WWII.
In May 2004 our nation finally reversed decades of neglect and opened the National WWII Memorial. It is a beautiful tribute to the more than 16 million men and women that served our country in this war.
I visited the memorial this summer with my family. We were
there late one afternoon and evening, and it is a spectacular tribute. We had the sense that we were standing on reverent ground. The 56 pillars rise into the sky, noting each state and territory that gave men and women to this cause. Freedom Wall is stunning. It contains 4,048 stars, each one representing 100 Americans that gave their lives in this global struggle.
My paternal grandfather fought in WWII. As a child, he was my hero. A tall man with a strong, enthusiastic laugh, he was my Grandaddy that took me fishing and always wanted to know how my football games had gone. He never saw this national tribute of respect and thanks for the years he spent fighting for us.
Many veterans have never seen their memorial, and Honor Flight is an organization with a mission to give everyone of them that opportunity. Earl Morse is a physicians assistant and pilot. He treated many veterans and in December 2004 he flew one of his patients, Mr. Loy, to see the memorial. Honor Flight was born.
Honor Flight now has networks of Guardians across American. Guardians are volunteers with a mission to assist the more than 6,000 veterans that have applied for a free trip to visit the WWII Memorial. These men and women have never seen their memorial, and as Guardians often say, time is running out. Click
HERE for more information about Honor Flight.
I regularly travel through the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI. This week I was blessed to encounter Guardians and WWII Veterans in their return flight home after visiting the memorial.
After passing through the security area, I headed for my gate. Guardians, wearing bright orange t-shirts, were escorting veterans to their gates. I walked up behind a Guardian pushing a veteran in a wheelchair as a uniformed soldier was walking toward us. When he reached the veteran, he stretched out his hand to the man sitting in the wheelchair and said two powerful words, "Thank you." These soldiers of different generations needed to say nothing more. A black and white photo of the moment would have spoken a thousand words.
I am grateful for our soldiers, past and present. They have given us much, and they have taught us much. This encounter taught me something. In the Atlanta Intl. airport I recently saw a group of people express their appreciation to a young female soldier. That moment was moving, but this experience at BWI was different.
It was especially powerful because the younger soldier gave respect and thanks to the retired veteran who now needed someone to push him in a wheelchair. He could no longer fight the fight, yet today's soldier counted him as one worthy of attention and respect.
I was reminded from this experience that it is good and right to give attention and appreciation to those that have fought the battles in generations before me. They may have used different methods and plans than I would use today, but I am able to be in the battle because they were in the battle. They made mistakes, they did not always agree with themselves, and they might have been able to do it better. Nonetheless, they were in the same battle before me, and I respect them for that. As a leader in church starting, pastoral ministry, and theological education and training, I was reminded that it is good to give attention and appreciation to those that have gone before me.
Troy Bush
On May 7, 1945, German forces surrendered to mark the end of the European Theater in WWII. On September 2, 1945, Japanese forces surrendered to end the Pacific Theater in WWII.
In May 2004 our nation finally reversed decades of neglect and opened the National WWII Memorial. It is a beautiful tribute to the more than 16 million men and women that served our country in this war.
I visited the memorial this summer with my family. We were 
there late one afternoon and evening, and it is a spectacular tribute. We had the sense that we were standing on reverent ground. The 56 pillars rise into the sky, noting each state and territory that gave men and women to this cause. Freedom Wall is stunning. It contains 4,048 stars, each one representing 100 Americans that gave their lives in this global struggle.
My paternal grandfather fought in WWII. As a child, he was my hero. A tall man with a strong, enthusiastic laugh, he was my Grandaddy that took me fishing and always wanted to know how my football games had gone. He never saw this national tribute of respect and thanks for the years he spent fighting for us.
Many veterans have never seen their memorial, and Honor Flight is an organization with a mission to give everyone of them that opportunity. Earl Morse is a physicians assistant and pilot. He treated many veterans and in December 2004 he flew one of his patients, Mr. Loy, to see the memorial. Honor Flight was born.
Honor Flight now has networks of Guardians across American. Guardians are volunteers with a mission to assist the more than 6,000 veterans that have applied for a free trip to visit the WWII Memorial. These men and women have never seen their memorial, and as Guardians often say, time is running out. Click HERE for more information about Honor Flight.
I regularly travel through the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, commonly known as BWI. This week I was blessed to encounter Guardians and WWII Veterans in their return flight home after visiting the memorial.
After passing through the security area, I headed for my gate. Guardians, wearing bright orange t-shirts, were escorting veterans to their gates. I walked up behind a Guardian pushing a veteran in a wheelchair as a uniformed soldier was walking toward us. When he reached the veteran, he stretched out his hand to the man sitting in the wheelchair and said two powerful words, "Thank you." These soldiers of different generations needed to say nothing more. A black and white photo of the moment would have spoken a thousand words.
I am grateful for our soldiers, past and present. They have given us much, and they have taught us much. This encounter taught me something. In the Atlanta Intl. airport I recently saw a group of people express their appreciation to a young female soldier. That moment was moving, but this experience at BWI was different.
It was especially powerful because the younger soldier gave respect and thanks to the retired veteran who now needed someone to push him in a wheelchair. He could no longer fight the fight, yet today's soldier counted him as one worthy of attention and respect.
I was reminded from this experience that it is good and right to give attention and appreciation to those that have fought the battles in generations before me. They may have used different methods and plans than I would use today, but I am able to be in the battle because they were in the battle. They made mistakes, they did not always agree with themselves, and they might have been able to do it better. Nonetheless, they were in the same battle before me, and I respect them for that. As a leader in church starting, pastoral ministry, and theological education and training, I was reminded that it is good to give attention and appreciation to those that have gone before me.
Troy Bush
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