Honoring Veterans on Veterans Day

As we observed the centennial commemoration of Armistice Day yesterday, recalling the end of WWI and the brave men and women who sacrificed so much at that time, we now further honor all the veterans who have made great sacrifices to defend our country’s freedom. On this Veterans Day we remember those who have given their time, their suffering, and even their lives. We are reminded of the important work the church is called upon to do in helping veterans acclimate back into the community and to help heal the wounds, seen and unseen, that they suffer. We commend the crucial work of people like Nate Graeser, who oversees the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative, a network of more than 250 organizations and stakeholders seeking together to identify and resolve the needs of local veterans. Or the numerous chaplains who are present with veterans and servicepersons amidst their grief and trauma. As Rev. Dr. Alan T. “Blues” Baker, retired Rear Admiral in the USMC, noted:

“What we do as chaplains is radical incarnational ministry. All chaplains, whether they’re Buddhist or Muslim, understand the ministry of presence. As Christians, we are the physical manifestation of Christ’s love, and this is what is specific about Christian chaplaincy. [Longtime Fuller professor] Ray Anderson used to talk to me about it like this: it’s incarnational ministry and church outside the walls. Your office is in your boots.”