The Ultimate Sacrifice - Why God Kept Me HereMay 7, 2004 To the soldiers that took my place in the Vietnam war. My lottery number was 357, and I was still in high school. In 1970 I tried to join the armed forces, but my papers got mixed up when my mom registered me as a child being born in another country. I tried again after moving to Tennessee, thinking I might get in. I took all the tests and right at the end they said I was not registered in the U.S. Being just 19 years old I wanted to serve my country, but in 1970 I was a man without a country and I later received my citizenship. I will never forget the 58,220 men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. I asked God why I couldn't go, and serve my country, and now being 53 years old, I now know the answer. You guys took my place so that I could have the American dream, and raise a family, and now I've been married to my wife for 28 years, and have two children, Christy and Gregory. My wife is a LPN working for a doctor and my daughter has a master's degree in accounting. She was second in her class in high school, and student of the year in Obion County, TN. My son is married to a lovely wife named Mandy, and they had their first child July 5th of 2003. My son is preaching the word of God whenever he gets the chance. Yes, we all are Christians, and know Jesus Christ as our Savior. I accepted him right after I came to Tennessee. I attended Bible College through 1974, and became a deacon in 1978-1980. I was chaplain and treasurer in the Civitan Club 1983-1998. At the present time I am an ordained deacon at our church. For these things I write in your honor for giving me the life I now have because of your sacrifice. People don't understand why tears come down my face every time they play the national anthem at ball games or some special event. They just don't understand that "Freedom is not free." It took the very lives of our young men, and women to keep us free, and it took God's only son to die on a cruel cross to set us free from sin. A debt I could not pay, and for the soldiers in arms-way that fought for our freedom, and for every American at home. For all I have are these words. Thanks for taking my place, and dying for me, as Jesus Christ took our place on Calvary, and died for us all. May God keep you in His arms and His Son in your hearts. May God Bless America. |