In 1 Chronicles, the Bible speaks of Mighty Men of Valor. These men loved their families, their nation, and their God. They were willing to fight and die for their families and their faith

In America, we have our own Mighty Men of Valor. For many generations, brave American soldiers have laid down their lives for our freedoms. And we owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the men and women who have sacrificed so dearly.

In a nursing home, a sweet lady spoke of her brother who died in World War 2. For many years her heart still ached and her tears honored her brother. She told me about the darkness of the bright sunshine when she learned that he was not coming home. I told her that her brother was a hero. And the truth is he was a Mighty Man of Valor.

I once worked with a man who served his country in World War 2, Korea, and Vietnam. He told about marching thru Europe when just a few feet away his buddy was obliterated by a mortar round. Years later in Vietnam, he was much older than most soldiers. As the helicopter landed, they jumped out running toward the enemy. Each soldier carried a heavy pack. Because of his age and the weight of his pack, he stumbled and fell. A black soldier stopped and picked up his pack and carried it along with his own. His story revealed the truth that when the bullets are flying there is no skin color among brothers who are Mighty Men of Valor.

Another Mighty man of Valor was my neighbor Mr. Thomas Rhodes. Like many true-life heroes, he was a gentle man who worked hard and never said much. It was only after he died that I learned that he had been a German prisoner of war in World War 2.

We have much to be thankful for. We set freely in our churches, worshiping without fear. We go to the polls and vote, without fear. We travel wherever we wish without fear. We live in the greatest country in the world and we are the most blessed people in the world.

So, with humble gratitude, I honor the great American heroes who are our own Mighty Men of Valor.

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where the Pavement Ends