Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

• Exodus 15:3

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

• Judges 6:12

“The bows of the warriors are broken,
    but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

• 1 Samuel 2:4

So Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

• 2 Samuel 20:7

I have written about my old Memorial Day tradition, but that tradition has passed.  I feel that God has healed me.

First, what is Memorial Day?  It is a day to stop and remember that our freedom was bought at a price, and many loved ones in this country did not get to greet their soldier.  He did not come home, unless in a casket or body bag.  I love the image created by Lee Teter in 1988, “Reflections.”  It shows a veteran with his head bowed, pressing a hand against the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.  But in the reflection in the wall, you do not see his reflection, but that of his friends who did not make it home.  I have seen a footnote to that image that says that Memorial Day is from them and Veterans Day is for him.

And we need to remember for each service person who died to defend our country, each of them, at least almost all, had someone you cried out, “He’s More than a Name on a Wall.”

What was I healed of?

I served four years on active duty, about ten years counting time in the reserves, but I did not serve in a time of conflict.

Each Memorial Day for roughly thirty years, I would watch the movie marathons from Saturday morning until late on Memorial Day, those marathons of war movies.  My mood would get darker and darker throughout the weekend with the ever-present questions, “Would I have made the right decision if I were in that officer’s place?”  or “Could I stand tall and not quake in my boots like John Wayne seems to do?”

I was haunted by those questions, but then I was laid off and my wife said that we had to make some cutbacks and cable would be the first thing to go.  I had a couple of DvDs, and I continued my tradition for another year.

Then, God seemed to tap me on the shoulder.  He said, “A Thank You wouldn’t hurt.  I kept you from having to find out whether you would make the wise decisions or whether you would serve valiantly or not.  You were meant for other things.”

So, I see the image “Reflections” and I weep for those who have their name on the wall and the veteran who experiences survivor guilt when he goes to the wall to visit old friends.  I cannot keep a dry eye when Jimmy Fortune sings his hit song either.

So, if you have an opinion about Memorial Day being anything else, then that is your opinion.  Many people have minimized, marginalized our military, and they have tried to make it something that it is not.  But a line that I heard often in the military was that opinions are like that body orifice in the hind quarters.  Everybody has one.

For the veterans out there who lost friends in combat, I will salute you in November.  This weekend is for those who did not make it home.

And remember what is in the tombs of unknown soldiers.  It is the remains of soldiers recovered from combat.  They are unknown.  They could be a friend.  The remains could be that of an enemy.  But that does not change the duty of the guards.  We honor them all.

Yes, by asking me a question, God healed me.

Lord, Thank You.  Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.