Watching my son graduate boot camp and move from recruit to Marine was an experience I will never forget.
The troops marched with precision as they entered the parade ground, not a step out of place. Their heads were held high and even from the stands, I could sense the pride shining from each face.
As the program continued during that hot day, the men stood perfectly still at parade rest though they had to be uncomfortable.
After the ceremony, I finally got the hug I’d been dying for. But the person hugging me back was different from the one I’d known before. He’d left home less than six weeks after high school graduation. Now, 13 weeks later, he stood before us a man.
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I saw the beauty of honor and commitment surround him like an aura. There was a set to his shoulders, part pride, part confidence. In boot camp there’d been struggles. His letters had revealed some; his eyes gave hint of others. No matter, this was a man who understood honor and commitment.
Few know exactly what they’ve signed up for when they join the military. This makes those who complete their allotted time all the more precious. They endure hardship in the form of physical and mental challenges, but because they stay the course, they come out the other side stronger.
God’s word reminds us:
How beautiful is the person who comes over the mountains to bring good news, who announces peace and brings good news, (Isaiah 52:7b NLT).
The men and women who serve in our military exemplify this verse. They come to bring peace to those who are in the middle of strife. They provide protection, and they offer the good news that every life has value.
On Veterans Day this Friday, let’s remember the beauty of the men and women who have served.
