I want to say, "Thank you," to the Pilgrims who braved the perils of the unknown to settle this new continent for the advancement of the Kingdom of God, to the Patriots who threw off the tyranny of a vengeful monarchy and rejected the false doctrine of the divine right of kings, to the hundreds of thousands who died to free slaves and forever end slavery in this nation, for those who perished to bring World War I to a quick end of the senseless slaughter, to those who liberated Europe from the evil Master Race ideology and the peoples of East Asia from a domineering empire, to those who gave their lives to prevent the spread of global communism in the thankless police action in Viet Nam, and to those slain in the never-ending wars against the bloodthirsty butchers of radical Islam.
But today, I want to memorialize my parents, Jack & Bertha Patricoff. My dad fought in the Pacific Theater of WWII, and although wounded, he survived. Unfortunately, the child they conceived did not. Seven years after the war ended, they adopted me, something they did not have to do. I believe The Creator of the Universe put it on their hearts to do so. I am eternally grateful that they chose to take me into their home and raise me to love and obey Almighty God. From the training I received from their hands, I learned His Word. In time, He revealed Himself to me and saved me.
Which brings me to the most important sacrifice of all. Jesus gave His life, so that I might live. He paid the sin penalty for everyone. He rose from the dead to prove He was and is the promised One. As we see the world embracing evil, His return is imminent. I look forward to His appearing and seeing Him face-to-face, and thanking Him for all He has done for all humanity, and me personally.
