Last weekend a local farm, Cody’s Farm and Orchard, in
Marengo held a day to honor those who have paid the ultimate price for our
freedom.
Sharon Purdom, who organized the event, ensured that those who had sacrificed so much were not forgotten. Purdom's friend and Gold Star Mother Barb Nurnberg, who lost her son, Spc. Keith
Nurnberg, in Iraq in 2007, was one of the inspirations behind this day.
She ended up as the keynote speaker, and she truly spoke from
her heart. But it was Nurnberg's description of her son’s heart that resonated with me.
She reminisced about how much he cared for people and how he took the time to know what
they needed. It was clear that he took after his mother.
Nurnberg described the moment she found out her son had been
killed, and how, in the weeks and years after his death, she discovered that her
son had volunteered to be in the position he was at when his life was lost.
She carefully explained how she believed his heart was so large that, had he
survived and someone else perished in his place, he would have had a difficult
time dealing with that. So she chose to focus on the verse John 15:13 “Greater
love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
There is no more powerful verse for me than that when I
think about those who serve – whether military, police, fire/rescue– first
responders of any sort. They are the ones who rush in where others run
out. Their kindness, their generosity,
their strength – it never ceases to impress upon me their great sacrifice, and
the sacrifices of their families. It is such a beautiful gift they possess to have the compassion and the courage to put the lives of others before their own. They live that verse … every day. And
I am humbled thinking about it.
But Nurnberg also emphasized caring for those who have come home
from service. As we, as a nation, continue to wrestle with and to seek to change
the heartbreaking statistic of 20 veterans a day being lost to suicide, Nurnberg
said she couldn't bear to lose those who already had sacrificed so much. She
encouraged friends, family and civilians alike to care, to reach out, to offer
support, to let them know they are not alone.
Be the person who asks the hard questions. Be the person who
checks in on them. Be the person who asks how life is going -- and have the
courage to listen. It isn’t easy to reach out, but it is one of the most beautiful things you
can ever do.
Thank veterans for their service. Shake their hands. Sit with
them. Hug them. Listen to them. They have a story; they will tell it when they are
ready. And, if you know they need assistance, help connect them with the people,
places and agencies that can do so. Let them know that you care – you never
know what your kindness can do.
Reach out to Gold Star families, too. Talk about their children. Let them share stories with you. Sit with then, too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cody’s Farm and Orchard features a military-themed corn
maze, an apple orchard, all sorts of harvest goodies, and a lot of fun
activities for the family, but being there to hear about the love and sacrifice
these local military families endure was powerful. I'm so thankful that my family went.
Thank you for your service, and thank you for your sacrifice.
