McDonough First United Methodist Church
We Honor Our Veterans
Words fall short of describing our special Veterans Day Sunday service for 2003. This service to honor our veterans and to worship our Lord will be remembered for a long time to come.
We recognized our veterans with a certificate of sincere thanks from our church, thanking them for their service to God and country. We had present in our service over 40 veterans representing service from World War II to the present. Each certificate was framed and matted with the veteran's service color and service seal.
The service began with the presentation of our colors by a Marine Color Guard. One of our veterans then led the congregation in the "pledge to the flag."
The service was filled with patriotic music and the choir had special music which included the songs of the various branches of service. During this special music, the flags of the service braches were presented by the Henry County High School JROTC.
After each veteran had received their certificate, we took time to recognize the family of one of our veterans that recently went home to be with our Savior.
Planning for this service began in the summer. Several of our veterans wanted to include a special recognition for our friend Jack "Judge" Polk. Mr. Polk was a survivor of the attack on our military stationed at Pearl Harbor. He was serving our country even before we entered World War II. Part of this recognition was to include the gift of a flag that had flown over the Pearl Harbor memorial above the sunken USS Arizona. Mr. Polk's family was on hand to receive this special recognition. The flag was presented in a frame for display and an accompanying certificate which stated that the flag was "raised and lowered on December 7, 2002, the sixty-first anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor."
We mourn the loss of Mr. Polk, but know that he was here with us, and his family, on this very special Sunday.
Our veterans also presented a certificate of appreciation to Rev. Mack Riley that included the "soldiers' prayer." Rev. Riley then preached on the topic "In God We Trust," capping a most memorable service.
To our Veterans.... You have given so much in service to God and country. We thank you, our heroes. You make us proud to be Americans.