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 The ceremony was held primarily inside this year.
Before those in attendance were invited for a meal of ham, beans and
homemade cornbread, a guest speaker was invited to say a few words.
Ron Otto is the Pastor at the Lincoln Christian Church. Otto was
asked to give this year’s speech honoring veterans in the community.
Otto spoke of his own history, not as a veteran, but
as a father to one. Otto did not serve in the armed forces, and
multiple times during his speech he spoke of his regret in not doing
so. “Looking back I regret that. As one author puts it, men spend a
lot more time not doing what they didn’t do than what they did,”
said Otto.
Ron Otto’s son, on the other hand, is a veteran; Matthew Otto
graduated from the Army with honors. He was stationed in Fort
Carson, Colorado, and he spent one year in Afghanistan. “My wife and
I spent that year on our knees,” said Pastor Otto. After that,
Matthew Otto attended the University of Colorado, and then was
recruited by the Air Force, where he received a leadership award.
Pastor Otto said he and his wife are not alone in being proud
parents of a veteran. Unfortunately, not all of those children come
home from overseas.
“We were the lucky ones, we got our son back healthy,” said Pastor
Otto. “There are many here today that stand by a grave they never
wanted to stand by.”
Pastor Otto also expressed confusion over what he felt he should say
to veterans. “If I stay silent, that feels inappropriate. If I say
thank you, that feels too small.” Throughout his speech, Pastor Otto
continued to express his confusion over what to say to people who
serve to defend the country’s freedom.
Pastor Otto repeated his regret that he couldn’t stand with veterans
in our community. “I stand with people today, all across this
nation, thanking military members for their willingness to serve. I
stand in deep appreciation for those who made the supreme
sacrifice.”
Pastor Otto wondered if it was wrong for a preacher to be motivated
by stories of soldiers serving their country. “There’s something
about…I cannot deny,” said Pastor Otto, and he mentioned several
important historical battles in US military history. “Is it wrong
for me to like that?” he asked.
Pastor Otto quoted another author who wrote, “The true soldier
fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he
loves what is behind him - his country.” Again, Otto repeated his
question: “Is it wrong that I like that?”
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At the end of his speech, Otto followed up his
questions by thanking veterans again with this: “Many in this world
have never known a day of freedom, but I have never known a day
without it.”
Pastor Otto’s speech was followed by a 21-gun salute held outside
and a rendition of “Taps.”
Joe Schaler gave a brief benediction prayer as the
ceremony began, and he gave the ending prayer as well.
Leslie Bennet sang the National Anthem as well as
“God Bless America” as the ceremony ended.
[Derek Hurley] |
