On May 26, 1983, President Ronald Reagan in his message on the observance of Memorial Day stated:  "I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is.  Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world."  How true such a statement is!  There is no price to put on freedom.  Our nation's history is marked by those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, that of a life.

     Consider this sacrifice:

• Revolutionary War (1775-1783) 4,435 deaths
• War of 1812 (1812-1815) 2,260 deaths
• Mexican War (1846-1848) 1,733 deaths
• Civil War (1861-1865) 184,594 deaths
• Spanish-American War (1898) 385 deaths
• World War I (1917-1918) 53,513 deaths
• World War II (1941-1945) 292,131 deaths
• Korean War (1950-1953) 33,651 deaths
• Vietnam War (1964-1972) 47,369 deaths
• Gulf War I (1990-1991) 148 deaths
• Gulf War II (2001-present) 4,080 deaths

We cannot say thank you enough for such service and devotion to our nation and the cause of freedom.

Tomorrow morning myself and eleven other men will spend a few days helping our missionary Jerry Kinman in Guatemala.  Please pray for safety and the Lord to use us in a mighty way.  Thank you for being such a wonderful church family.

For Him,

Pastor