A veteran's thought at Christmas 2013 ... Sam Kegley

A veteran’s thoughts at Christmas 2013

I am a veteran of the Korean War time who served in Tokyo and never saw a battlefield.  I was privileged this past October, 2013 to fly to Washington D.C. on an Honor Flight due to the kind invitation of a friend from church, Bill Marland.

Since many who have seen the battlefields of the world have not returned or only did so in a wounded state, I feel so fortunate to have lived my life, now at 81.

My wife, Jeanie, was beautiful then and still is.  We have shared a steady Christian love for sixty-two years next month.  Coming home after maturing  during my two years service (Jeanie says so);  I have lived a very full life.

We had our first son, Jay Clark, in December 1955.  Six years before Jeffrey Brent was born in 1961, shortly after I obtained a BS in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Kentucky.   Later years have brought us three beautiful granddaughters and two step-sons.

Seeing newborn that you helped conceive is so special.  Certainly babies are beautiful, even boy babies.  But the euphoria is not only the mother’s.  The dreams initiated of nurturing the boys throughout their lives is still with Jeanie and me.  I’m sure our boys would like for us to “let that go”; however I assure you that we never will. 

I’ve worked hard, and so has Jeanie, but we have enjoyed all of these years.  Those families who lost their sons, daughters, husbands, or whichever, have had sadness inescapable throughout these years.  Likewise, the wounded warriors have lived less than full lives over these years. 

As we thank the Christian God, we can barely  imagine the sadness He must have felt when His son suffered the horrible torture and death  to forgive each person on earth.  We are so happy at this time of celebration for Jesus’  birth.

America, by even secular poll results, has 86 % believers in God, but our supposed government leaders have allowed the 86 % to remove so much of the cause of Christmas celebration.  Many of them are of the secular progressive crowd.  Such leaders didn’t win our freedoms they are stripping us of.  The service-people and their families who suffered so much for the freedoms of American  citizens did.  Shame on any elected person who has let “America- the last city on the hill” slip away due to their own selfishness. 

Merry Christmas!

Sam Kegley