Honoring the Veterans

I expected it, but then again the gesture caught me unexpectedly.

I was standing on the side of Main Street on an overcast, drizzly Memorial Day Monday yesterday. My daughter Faith was in the Dubuque Memorial Day Parade and the whole family was anticipating her arrival with cameras in hand.

The parade started with the usual Police car sounding its siren and flashing its lights (One of the few times I don't mind those flashing lights catching my eye in the rear view...)

A few convertibles rolled by at a snail's pace with some of the city's dignitaries seated on top of the back seat giving the "Parade Wave" and smiling at all those who had come out despite the threatening clouds.

Then a group of Veterans walked by in full uniform carrying the flag of the United States of America. What happened next is what caught me off guard.

Everyone sitting... stood.
Every man wearing a cap... removed it.
Everyone who had their hands in their pockets... started clapping.
Every Veteran on the sidelines... stood at full attention.

The very act brought moisture to my eyes... honor to my heart.

My iWitness...

We live out our lives on a Parade route.

We carry high the Flag of our Faith called the Cross.
We are surrounded by veterans of the Faith who cheer us on.
Veterans who shout words of encouragement.
Veterans who clap their approval of our progress on the parade route.
Veterans who stand at attention to honor those who will follow in their footsteps.
Veterans who march with us with a limp, a gimp and other battle scars from the field.
Veterans who by their very dress tell stories of a life lived by the Creed.
Veterans who stick by us with a three syllable code - "Semper Fi" (Always Faithful)
Veterans who wear their colors with humility and pride for the One they serve.
Veterans...We honor them...They honor us

Together... we honor our Greatest Grand Marshal,
                        cheer for our most worthy Veteran,
                             salute with great gusto our Commander in Chief - Christ the Lord
Left, right, left, right, left...
See you out on the Parade Route!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right had of the throne of God."
(Hebrews 12. 1-2)

And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!