Memorial Day Hits Home

Today is Memorial Day, when we remember those who died in the Armed Forces for our freedom. Typically, we think of those who fought in the great wars: the Revolution, the Civil War, the World Wars, etc. But this year we have an example from among our own at Calvary.

This day, Pierson, an expert marksman, patrolled to the right of Ward. He was sweating in his sand-colored military fatigues, the ones with long sleeves... "He was on my right flank, less than 10 feet away from me," Ward says. "And I remember looking over and seeing that Jordan was busy doing his job, ensuring that his Marines were following his orders."
From the fifth floor of the six-story building on their right, a sniper raises what Marines believe was a Dragunov bolt-action rifle, looks through its precision scope, and fires a round that strikes Pierson just below his right shoulder in his collarbone — a place his body armor doesn't cover. It ricochets inside him to come out the other end just below his left armpit. "I think he was dead before he hit the ground," Eric Pierson says. "It was that fast."

Please be praying for the families of those who have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan this year, as well as those who have died in past wars. We honor their memories and their sacrifices.