From the Pulpit: Where were you?
Whenever any major event occurs in our world, we often can reflect back to “where were you” when that event took place. For instance, where were you when President Kennedy was assassinated in Texas? My grandmother always told me that she was on an airplane leaving Texas and the plane had to wait on the tarmac for the Presidential plane carrying President Kennedy and the First Lady to land in Texas. When they arrived in Sioux Falls, the President had already been shot. Where were you when the space shuttle “Challenger” blew up after lift-off? I was in second grade eating lunch at Litchfield Elementary School in Mitchell. Where were you on Sept. 11th, 2001? I was serving as a Marine Corps Officer and had been deployed from California in August 2001 for a six-month deployment. It was near midnight in Australia while I was on liberty with some Marine buddies when we were informed of the attacks in New York and ordered back to the ships at the port of Darwin, Australia. A nation and military that was used to peace was now at war. More recently, where were you when you heard of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest serving monarch of Great Britain? I must confess, I was on vacation in California having a glass of wine.
This past week’s death of 96 year-old Queen Elizabeth II and the 21st anniversary of the attacks on Sept. 11th, 2001, are great opportunities for us to reflect on what we, too, have to offer to our society. Too many young men, women and children were lost in the 9-11 tragedy and the subsequent wars that followed. They didn’t have 96 years to give, but how did they use the years they did have for good? I’m reminded of a young Marine I served alongside in the wars that followed 9/11 - Corporal Dunham. I assisted in his Medal of Honor recognition that spoke about his heroic action in 2004 when insurgent forces attacked his unit. He was sent to investigate with his squad and in doing so uncovered multiple weapons and fighters. At which point an insurgent unleashed a grenade. With little time to react, Corporal Dunham threw his body over the grenade to endure the impact of the explosion as best he could – saving the lives of the Marines around him, including the soldier who initiated the explosion. Corporal Jason Dunham was 22 years old. He was a 9/11 Marine who answered the call to support and defend the United States, even at the cost of his own life. For 22 years he lived with selflessness, courage and sacrifice.
The world still mourns all that was lost on 9/11 and in the wars that followed, as we do also for the loss of the truly inspirational and beloved Queen Elizabeth II. There have been many royals over the years that have passed from this life, why is Queen Elizabeth different? It wasn’t because she was Queen but again, like Corporal Dunham, how she lived out her life. She lived not simply for herself, but sacrificing for others – her nation and the world. Queen Elizabeth led with humility and always tried to put differences aside to seek the best in everyone – even her former colonists in the United States! We still are not too fond of tea! One moment that stands out to me was the day after the 9/11 attacks, Sept. 12th, at the traditional changing of the guards in London. She ordered that not the British Anthem but the American National Anthem be played by the band as a way to recognize the tragedy and acknowledge the hurt that our nation was experiencing.
We all only have one life to live – how will we live it out and make our mark? I don’t expect many of us will be recipients of a Medal of Honor for heroism or have the pomp and circumstance of a royal funeral, but the mark we leave might be more important than we think.
