A hero's story that calls us to action.
It happened that a very close friend of our Church Family, just one of our regular boys-turned Soldier from Virginia, passed away leaving his spouse behind with just barely enough to make it month to month. A few months ago, she followed her beloved into eternity, however, there were no funds left to pay for her burial.
He was born to an upstanding family in 1921. His daddy was a Deputy Sheriff in that little Virgina town. Under some unexpected circumstance, his daddy was convicted of murder and sentenced to prison when he was 9. He grew up like all the rest of the kids during the Great Depression; struggling for a loaf of bread and worrying from where or whom his next meal would come. As was common for those days, children felt strongly about finding a way to earn a few pennies to help out-and he was no different. So, as a result of Franklin D. Roosevelt's “New Deal” this young man sought an opportunity to join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). But, he would face one more obstacle--he was too young for the program. Well, he decided to lie about his age.
"Heck, if he could make $25 a month for his family, and get another $5 for himself!"
- It was a New Deal. In fact it was a New Big deal. $5 could buy a lot for just one skinny young country boy. So he began his public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. (He was only 15.)
You might think, wow!!! He was on public aid. But this public aid meant hard work that would restore, build up and beautify this wonderful country’s forestry. It wasn’t a hand out in anyway.
Later at 19, this good American joined the Army. He was enlisted as one of the Corps. of Engineers. Basically, people, he was a Combat and Military Construction man. Under enemy fire, he was fixing roads and clearing debris.
“Shoot! Somebody had to make straight the path.”
Yes, this PFC survived WWII, but not before they dropped him off on the scenic Omaha beach where he participated in “Operation Overlord” during the infamous D-Day Invasion of Normandy. And let me tell you, this was quite an adventure. I’m told with the great privilege of a Combat and Military Construction man, ie, an enlistee of the Corps. of Engineers, he was deployed to clear the dead bodies off the beach.
This Story has touched and inspired me to look into the need that exists here-at home. Many of our Heroes are still serving, some even still active abroad. But here at home, they and their families still war to survive life-and sometimes with not enough . . . .
Compelled by this very real need, I spoke with my Board and simply said "I want to do something!"
Thus was born the “Fight For Our Heroes” Fund Raiser.
Today, I’m asking you to consider joining me with Abundant Grace Ministry, in fighting for our local active or retired military personnel by helping us provide for the simple, everyday needs of our Heroes who fight for our freedom.
It happened that a very close friend of our Church Family, just one of our regular boys-turned Soldier from Virginia, passed away leaving his spouse behind with just barely enough to make it month to month. A few months ago, she followed her beloved into eternity, however, there were no funds left to pay for her burial.
He was born to an upstanding family in 1921. His daddy was a Deputy Sheriff in that little Virgina town. Under some unexpected circumstance, his daddy was convicted of murder and sentenced to prison when he was 9. He grew up like all the rest of the kids during the Great Depression; struggling for a loaf of bread and worrying from where or whom his next meal would come. As was common for those days, children felt strongly about finding a way to earn a few pennies to help out-and he was no different. So, as a result of Franklin D. Roosevelt's “New Deal” this young man sought an opportunity to join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). But, he would face one more obstacle--he was too young for the program. Well, he decided to lie about his age.
"Heck, if he could make $25 a month for his family, and get another $5 for himself!"
- It was a New Deal. In fact it was a New Big deal. $5 could buy a lot for just one skinny young country boy. So he began his public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. (He was only 15.)
You might think, wow!!! He was on public aid. But this public aid meant hard work that would restore, build up and beautify this wonderful country’s forestry. It wasn’t a hand out in anyway.
Later at 19, this good American joined the Army. He was enlisted as one of the Corps. of Engineers. Basically, people, he was a Combat and Military Construction man. Under enemy fire, he was fixing roads and clearing debris.
“Shoot! Somebody had to make straight the path.”
Yes, this PFC survived WWII, but not before they dropped him off on the scenic Omaha beach where he participated in “Operation Overlord” during the infamous D-Day Invasion of Normandy. And let me tell you, this was quite an adventure. I’m told with the great privilege of a Combat and Military Construction man, ie, an enlistee of the Corps. of Engineers, he was deployed to clear the dead bodies off the beach.
This Story has touched and inspired me to look into the need that exists here-at home. Many of our Heroes are still serving, some even still active abroad. But here at home, they and their families still war to survive life-and sometimes with not enough . . . .
Compelled by this very real need, I spoke with my Board and simply said "I want to do something!"
Thus was born the “Fight For Our Heroes” Fund Raiser.
Today, I’m asking you to consider joining me with Abundant Grace Ministry, in fighting for our local active or retired military personnel by helping us provide for the simple, everyday needs of our Heroes who fight for our freedom.