s we celebrate the nation’s 227th birthday we would like to honor those WCG members and relatives serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, those who are serving or have served elsewhere in the military and the many thousands who have paid the ultimate sacrifice that we might enjoy the precious freedoms that God has given us.

To lead us in offering thanks, we have asked for comments from Leith Cunningham, a Korean War veteran from Fife Lake, Michigan, a longtime member who attends the Cadillac, Michigan, church.

Leith Cunningham

LEITH AND DAISY--Leith Cunningham and his "70 mile an hour dog" Daisy. Leith said: "She goes everywhere with us and loves to hang her head out the window. If you go any faster, she can't keep her eyes open or handle the wind vibrating her lips.

Combat service in Korea more than 50 years ago taught me the value of getting letters from home, honoring our flag and having the support of the folks back home. The best sound reaching your ears in those days was hearing your name called at mail call.

I still get a lump in my throat and goose bumps while standing, removing my hat, facing the flag and hearing “The Star Spangled Banner” being played, while the flag yet waves and we’re the home of the brave. Having the feeling that your service to your country mattered and knowing that the friends, neighbors and family that you had left behind were in support of that service was all part of what made it worthwhile.

During this Fourth of July season it now seems an appropriate part of our responsible duty to offer our support and encouragement to all of our Christian brothers, sisters and families in the WCG as well as all men and women everywhere who have served, now serve or will be serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Let us now collectively close ranks as we symbolically remove our hats in their honor, offering them all of our grateful thanks and appreciation in their combined efforts to keep us a free nation.

To all veterans, past, present and future, we give you the praise and honor that you so richly deserve. Thank you and your families for your sacrifice for our freedom and safety. Freedom is not free! Thank a veteran today.

Leith Cunningham

(sleepydog68@hotmail.com)

Zachary Aaron Erickson

KALAMAZOO, Michigan—Zachary Aaron Erickson, 20, is a corporal in the Marine Corps and is in Iraq. He is attached to the Second Division and is in the Communications Company of the Fourth Battalion. He was involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and at the time of this writing was at the Baghdad airport.

Zachary Aaron Erickson

Michael Dustin Erickson

He will soon be made sergeant, but already assists in commanding a platoon.

His brother, Private First Class Michael Dustin Erickson, 27, graduated from Marine Boot Camp in San Diego, California. He is a member of Golf Company of the Second Battalion.

His platoon, 2065, was honor platoon of the company, placing first in inspections, reviews of performance, and in most qualifications of “Expert” with their M-16A rifles, as well as passing the written tests with the highest over-average scores.

While there, Michael was instrumental in bringing a young fellow Marine to Jesus Christ and dependency on him for strength and purpose. Michael considers this his greatest test of his own faith and God’s using him to help others triumph.

They are the sons of Daniel and Cheryl (Lewis) Erickson, graduates of Ambassador College in Big Sandy.

Daniel Erickson: “God is dealing with each of these ‘kids.’ There’s a reason behind their being where they are in defense of our country, in the defense of freedom, and for their being willing to lay down their lives for something larger than themselves.

“God is using these circumstances to change every one of them, just as he did Moses and Joshua and David of Old Testament times. It is heartening to know that  WCG congregations are praying for them, that we can remember their being where they are and our responsibility to ‘pray them through.’ Our Kalamazoo congregation does just that!”

Justin R. Flynn

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Michigan—Staff Sergeant Justin R. Flynn is on the Air Force bomb squad (called Explosive Ordnance Disposal or EOD) and was deployed to RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, which was home of our B-52s during in the war. 

Justin is the son of Ross and Jan Flynn, who pastor the Detroit East church. Justin and his wife, Tori, are expecting their first child in November. His home base is Barksdale Air Force Base near Shreveport, Louisiana, home of the Eighth Air Force (the “Mighty Eighth”) and Second Bomb Wing, where B-52 combat crews are trained. 

About 800 EOD servicemen are active worldwide at this time. The mission of EOD is to “render safe” unexploded ordnance, including bombs that land and don’t explode, bombs that are accidentally dropped while being loaded onto an airplane or helicopter, bombs that get stuck in the bomb bay, and unexploded bombs dropped by the enemy on friendly forces. 

Their tools include an eight-wheeled one-ton remote-controlled robot with cameras, guns, a water cannon and explosives, which is agile enough to go up and down stairs and remotely climb into the back of a pickup truck. 

During peacetime, EOD personnel train local law enforcement officials, assist the Secret Service in guarding the President, render safe exceptionally challenging domestic IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), and assist with other threats to homeland security.

For example, when the space shuttle Columbia exploded during re-entry Feb. 1, EOD personnel were called on to investigate each major piece of debris and sound the “all clear” for others, since a number of systems on the shuttle used explosive devices. Justin had the opportunity to “render safe” the nose cone. 

I thank God for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line during Iraqi Freedom, and pray for the families of the loved ones injured or killed while freeing Iraq from oppression.

Brandon Stein

TEHACHAPI, California—Lance Corporal Brandon Stein served in Baghdad with the Marine Third Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, which came under small arms fire from the Iraqis. He has since returned to the United States.

His uncle, Donald Sprinkel, himself an Army veteran, having served in Vietnam, is a member of the Palm Springs, California, church.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2003