Thank You Veterans

I had a great day today. It started with dinner at McCormick's and Schmick's in downtown Minneapolis. Every Veteran's Day they honor veterans with a free entree, so I took my lovely wife out and got a chance to thank others who have served our country. One gentleman whose kids grew up with my dad and uncles said he served in Guadalcanal - wow, take an afternoon and read about that here. Tonight I was honored to participate in a Veteran's Day ceremony at the invite of Pastor Joe Braucht at Destiny Christian Center in Burnsville, MN. I spoke for five minutes about things you should know about soldiers and veterans (They're very proud of their service, they've endured significant emotional events and that bonds them together, they're not superman or superwoman, they need to know their effort was not in vain, they don't all come home, they are all greatly missed by their wives, children, parents, extended family, and community when deployed, and they must readjust to a new normal when they get home.) Next, I posted the colors with a Marine, an Airman, and another soldier. It was a privilege to be followed by Dave Roever, the Vietnam veteran who suffered disfiguring injuries to his face and upper body after a phosphorous grenade exploded a few feet from his head.

Roever was so badly burned that the medics who loaded him onto the helicopter thought he was dead. “I had half of my face and my right ear burned completely away. I had blood spurting from an open artery in my right hand and I could see my heart beating in my chest.” The phosphorus continued to burn as he was being treated, he continued. “When the medics put me on the stretcher initially I burned through the stretcher and fell on my head when I hit the ground.” Wrapping him in a blanket soaked in river water, he was finally loaded in the helicopter. Thinking he was dead, the medics didn’t do anything to try and help him, and so Roever took matter into his own hands, he said. “From under that blanket I summoned all the strength I had left and yelled ‘Medic!’ That got everyone’s attention real fast.1”

Dave's story is incredibly moving, and it was awesome to hear how God is working through this ministry to bring hope and healing to service members wounded in combat. After the service I spent a few minutes talking to Dave and gave him a big hug - what a wonderful human being. Please visit Dave's site at http://www.daveroever.net. Don't forget to vote on Tuesday! 1. http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/jan2004/a012304e.html