Wreaths Across America

Remember. Honor. Teach.

12/12/15 – Fort Harrison, Helena MT

Opening prayer

Thank you for inviting me to be here.

I am not an ordained clergyman but a man grateful to worship our creator as I freely choose. That free choice did not come without sacrifice. The ultimate sacrifice. 

Paying respects to those who made the sacrifice for our freedom is why we are here.

We gather here today to honor and pay homage to the things which bind us together as a people within one nation. Though we are all unique, we can agree on the enduring power of the human spirit which defines as a country.

I invite all of you join me in a moment of silence to allow us to collect our thoughts and to focus on the gratitude we all have that today we woke in country where freedom, liberty and individual are valued before all else. Without the sacrifices of those we remember today, our individual wills might have been lost, melted into nothingness by the evil forces which relentlessly seek to do us harm and destroy our sovereignty.

No matter what we may believe, there is something more here than just ourselves, something greater than just what each of us could ever bring to this place. Many of you have been willing to risk the loss of your lives to protect those things we cherish and we thank you for that willingness.

During the silence, if you wish to join me in prayer, please do so but I ask that we all reflect on the full measure of courage, commitment, duty and loyalty that allows normal humans to step into extraordinary circumstances and become heroes.

Silence

Thank you.

Closing Remarks

We began today with a moment of silence. I am going to invite you to join me again in silence but while we don’t speak out with words, please let human spirit within each of us speak out to the silence. As we leave this hallowed place, please let what we have seen, heard and felt hear nourish the unending gratitude and appreciation we owe the fallen. If you pray, I invited to again pray with me but let us all reflect on what we have heard that we may better pack away the words and thoughts of remembrance that we came here to share. Remember them when see a flag gently waving in the breeze or when we gazing upon the haunting whiteness of gravestones. We are free today because of them. We owe them everything we can offer.

Silence

Thank you. Let us depart secure in knowing we have shared the blessings of belief and freedom our nation provides because of the willingness of the many to sacrifice for rest of us.