When I was a kid, my dad and I once got stuck behind a bus spewing thick black smoke from its engine on Winston Road. I remember him getting quiet and lost in thought before telling me it reminded him of the best Easter Sunday he ever had, back on April 1, 1945.
That day, in the chaos of World War II, my dad and his fellow Marines landed on the heavily guarded shores of Okinawa, Japan. It was a brutal fight that would turn out to be the last major battle of the war—a pivotal victory for the Allied forces.
All the blood and smoke that day was rough, but it made my father a resilient and patriotic man. He carried those lessons of war with him his whole life, always leading with a strong sense of duty and love of country.
Although my dad is no longer here, I think about this story every Easter because it’s a powerful reminder of the brave men and women who wear our country’s uniform. As a Christian, I owe these folks everything I have but my salvation. Whether they fought back then or are fighting for us now, they deserve nothing but respect.
So, as we come together with family and friends this weekend, let’s all take a moment to pray for our service members who are spending Easter away from home. All the fun and frolicking we’ll get to do is only because they’ve dedicated their lives to serving this great country.
Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and joyful Easter! Thanks for placing your trust in me.
