This is Frank Drenner, Jr- United States Navy. He served in Vietnam on one of the little boats patrolling the rivers in the movie Apocalypse Now. His father, my paternal grandfather, Frank Drenner, Sr- also USN, served in WWII- even before the war started. He was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. He died when I was a toddler. The other picture is my maternal grandfather, Don Guffey, again USN. He enlisted in the days following Pearl Harbor, just shy of his 20th birthday. He was a signalman, communicating between ships on very dangerous convoys in the Pacific.
All three of my nephews served in the military: two in the Air Force, one in the Navy. The oldest was discharged several years ago; the others are on active duty, serving in Northern Virginia and Okinawa, Japan. I am very proud of them!
Across many decades in ministry, Christy and I have known many veterans: some who became very close to us. Bryan Clark was a Marine in WWII who fought at Iwo Jima; he served for many years in law enforcement as a Texas Ranger. Neil Sternberg served as a Captain in the Navy- as a dentist. Bill Wehunt served for 20 years in the Army and retired as a Captain. I have many colleagues in ministry who served before they experienced their calls to ministry: Jack Wallace, Chris Dowd, Chris Yost, so many others… and who could forget Spring Valley’s founding pastor, Rev Jack Gibson who served in Korea? Others serve as chaplains, like Andrew Fiser on our Conference staff.
What I have learned from those relationships over many years: veterans are not monolithic in their thinking, their politics, even their understanding of military service. Some served because they were drafted, some because military service was a family tradition, some because military service was the best option for them at that point in their lives. Some were verbose about their experiences; others kept their experiences close. They all learned something valuable about their experiences and themselves. They all deserve our thanks and appreciation for their patriotism and sense of duty.
Our Social Principles say, “We honor and offer support to those who choose military service as a result of personal conviction and urge that they perform their duties in harmony with the tenets of the Christian faith and in accordance with the laws of the Geneva Conventions.
We also honor and support the witness of pacifists whose consciences and religious convictions prevent them from serving in the military or limit them to taking noncombatant roles. The roots of such pacifist convictions are well established in the historic stances of The United Methodist church…
As a church, we commit ourselves to support all people as they discern how best to model the nonviolent example of Jesus. The church supports and guides those who serve in the military; those who are conscientious objectors; veterans living with physical, psychological, spiritual, and moral injury; and families of people affected by military service. We urge the church to care and work for systemic justice for all people affected by war, and to advocate for peacemaking and nonviolent conflict transformation in global and local conflicts.”
November 11 was originally Armistice Day, celebrating the end of World War I. It became Veterans Day later to honor the military service of everyone. Thanks to all of our Spring Valley veterans- we will also have a special recognition in worship this Sunday.
A Litany from The Book of Worship for United States Forces (1974), no. 625- One-time permission to print and use this litany in congregational worship has been granted by The Armed Forces Chaplains’ Board, Washington, D.C.
Leader: Let us give thanks to God for the land of our birth with all its chartered liberties. For all the wonder of our country’s story:
People: We give you thanks, O God.
Leader: For leaders in nation and state, and for those who in days past and in these present times have labored for the commonwealth:
People: We give you thanks, O God.
Leader: For those who in all times and places have been true and brave, and in the worlds common ways have lived upright lives and ministered to their fellows:
People: We give you thanks, O God.
Leader: For those who served their country in its hour of need, and especially for those who gave even their lives in that service:
People: We give you thanks, O God.
Leader: O almighty God and most merciful Father, as we remember these your servants, remembering with gratitude their courage and strength, we hold before you those who mourn them. Look upon your bereaved servants with your mercy. As this day brings them memories of those they have lost awhile, may it also bring your consolation and the assurance that their loved ones are alive now and forever in your living presence.
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