Local Minister to Deliver Message
The American Legion Post of San Saba will meet and hold a prayer brunch at 10:45 a.m. at Napoli’s Italian Restaurant (210 East Commerce St.), on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th. Justin Bell, minister of the 2nd & Wallace San Saba Church of Christ, will present the program. Special guest will be Winton Lackey of San Saba HS, who attended 2024 American Legion Boys State.
Freedom is Not Free
As a nation, we continue to lose American lives every day on foreign soils, in military training accidents, demilitarized zones, and countless missions around the world. The loss to their families, friends, fellow service members, and country is permanent. Some were only teenagers, and most of those killed in action were under age 25. In the eyes of their loved ones, they are forever young.
This is why Memorial Day is so important. We don’t just honor those with the highest medals or those who participated in the most hellacious firefights. We honor the more than one million men and women who lost their lives defending America in wars from the Revolution to the Global War on Terrorism.
Americans are proud of the families of the fallen, who have sacrificed so much. Long after the battlefield guns have been silenced and the bombs have stopped exploding, the children of our fallen warriors will still be missing a parent. Spouses will be without their life partners. Parents will continue to grieve for their heroic sons and daughters who died way too early. Our society needs to be there for them – nobody can replace these fallen heroes – especially in the eyes of their families – but we can offer shoulders to cry on and assurance that their loved one’s sacrifice will not be forgotten.
The American Legion is pledged through the Preamble of its organization’s constitution to “preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars…” This solemn promise is on the back of each Legion membership card. Yet, we do not remember our fallen brothers and sisters in arms because of an edict or obligatory ritual. We do so because we want to. Americans must remember that freedom isn’t free. In fact, it’s only possible because our fallen sons and daughters have paid its high price.
Justin Bell was born in Brownfield, Texas. He graduated from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, with a degree in biochemistry. Justin is currently serving as the pulpit minster at the 2nd & Wallace Church of Christ. He is married to the former Jackie Vrazel, and they have three children: Hannah, Katie, and Abigail.