Regent University Honors America’s Veterans: The Legacy of Faithful Service
Editor's Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Regent University, its faculty, administration, or affiliates.
Robert H. Carpenter, D.Min., Assistant Professor, School of Divinity
On this Veterans Day, we come together to honor and remember the men and women of the United States who have served our country ever so faithfully. Therefore, we assemble with thankful hearts, knowing that the freedoms we hold dear are ours because of their dedication and sacrifice. The groundwork for our freedoms did not come without a high cost—patriots were willing to fight and die to give us the America we have today.
In looking back over the history of our nation, the first settlers came to this land to express their religious faith…the freedom of worship. It all began back in 1607 when three ships were sailing on the horizon of what was to become America. Once they reached land, 120 very tired Englishmen came ashore.
These voyagers explored for three days. Then they took a seven-foot, roughly hewn cross from the boat, and they brought it over and erected it on the beach. They gathered around the cross, got on their knees, and began to pray, asking that the glory of Jesus Christ would prevail upon this new land. This place would later become known as Virginia Beach.
Thirteen years after they erected the cross, after they knelt and prayed on that beach, more Englishmen came over on another ship. That ship was called the Mayflower. That was in November 1620. Over three-hundred years later in the 1930s, a monument was placed to honor what those early pilgrims did that day.
On this Veterans Day, (originally known as Armistice Day), we observe a federal holiday that is observed annually on November 11th, honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect.
The United States Congress adopted a resolution on June 4, 1926, requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue annual proclamations calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies.
U.S. Representative Ed Rees from Emporia, KS, presented a bill establishing the holiday through Congress. And on May 26, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, also from Kansas, signed the bill into law.
At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was later renamed Veterans Day as Congress amended the bill on June 1, 1954, and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
At Regent University, we proudly acknowledge that the Word of God is the very foundation of our faith as it boldly focuses our attention on the Son of God who died for our sins—our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Therefore, we know and believe that the freedoms we enjoy today are ours to claim as our very own as a direct result of the blessings of our Father in heaven, who heard the faithful prayers of those early settlers.
Because of the sacrifice of our Savior on the cross of Calvary, we have been set free from the law of sin and death for all eternity! Praise His Name!
May we reflect on the words of Jesus in John 8:31-32, when He promises us our spiritual freedom when we faithfully obey and follow His Word, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (New International Version)
As we unite with one another in prayer, may the words of the Psalmist David in Psalm 33:12 also ring true in our hearts as we faithfully intercede for America, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (NIV)
On Veterans Day, our Regent University family continually remembers and honors all Veterans who have worn the uniforms of our grateful and blessed nation!
To God Be the Glory, Great Things He Has Done! Amen and Amen!
