Thank You Captain John

It is Memorial Day weekend, and as I sit here typing I am staring at a pencil drawing of a man I draw considerable inspiration from. A man who put his life on the line for what he believed in. A man, who like many at that time, put it all on the line for the freedoms we hold so true today. The drawing is of the Minuteman Statue in Lexington, MA. You see that statue is of my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather, Captain John Parker (my middle name Parker has been handed down to generation since.)

He was the leader of the Minutemen at Lexington in the infamous battles that began our fight for freedom. He believed so strongly in the cause of the young colonies that he is credited with saying, "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."

The sacrifice. I often wonder how much he and his family did have to sacrifice. And when I compare it to what I sometimes do, it pales. He stood his ground, he believed and set forth to accomplish what God had placed him here to do. He served his country, and saw family members die, so that I can sit here today and type openly about a God I love.

Thank you Captain John and to the millions of other US Military personnel and families, for your sacrifice this Memorial Day.