Today is the National Day of the Deployed, a day set aside for our nation to honor all service members who have been deployed in service of our country, as well as the families who support them.
We owe our servicemen and women, past and present, a debt of gratitude.
This past August 27th (the fifth year anniversary of the Abby Gate terrorist attack, Kabul, Afghanistan, where thirteen members of our military lost their lives) I watched on TV the ceremony presenting three Marines who survived the bomb blast and then worked to save others in its immediate aftermath their belated awards. Their stories of heroism are a bit too long for this post, so I encourage you to look it up and read them. I hope you’ll be as moved as I was.
At this ceremony, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the Bronze Star Medal with Valor to retired Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby, and retired Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor to retired Cpl. Michael Gretzon.
The anniversary of Abby Gate and the belated recognition of three brave soldiers ought to remind us to be in prayer DAILY for all U.S. military personnel deployed as well as their families and not only the “deployed” but all our service men and women wherever they may be stationed.
At this ceremony, Marine Corps Commandant General Eric Smith, put it best when he said, “I don’t know where we find such men, but I’m not sure we deserve them.”
A friend of mine (Army Special Forces, Green Berets, Vietnam veteran, whose only assignment in Vietnam was rescuing POW’s) wore a T-shirt up at the gym which read: Live Your Life Worthy Of Their Sacrifice.”
One way we can do just that is to support the deployed and their families in prayer, not just on this National Day of the Deployed, but every day.
Pray with me: Lord, we lift up to you the watchmen on the walls and ask that you would enable them to keep vigilant watch over the affairs of the world that they might accurately identify those things which pose a threat to our nation and our nation’s interests; give them great wisdom in knowing how best to handle these threats. And we ask that you would keep all our soldiers safe and well-equipped so that they would be ready to serve when duty calls and to serve with valor and distinction; and grant them success in the mission to which we send them. Amen.
Join the Conversation
We would love to hear from our readers and want to encourage positive interaction. Comments can
provide valuable feedback and encouragement to our writers, and this helps foster a sense of community. (Read our Comment Policy)
