Veterans Day 2020

Dear Friends,

This Veterans Day, let us take a moment to remember and thank those who have served to protect our country. Let us remember their sacrifice and pray for their family members. 

I recently came across a Veterans Day poem written by Cheryl Dyson, and wanted to share it with you: 

On Veterans Day we honor all,

Who answered to a service call.

Soldiers young , and soldiers old,

Fought for freedom, brave and bold.

Some have lived, while others died,

And all of them deserve our pride.

We're proud of all the soldiers who,

Kept thinking of red, white and blue.

They fought for us and all our rights,

They fought through many days and nights.

And though we may not know each name, 

We thank all veterans just the same.

Thank you for supporting our soldiers; may God Bless you and your family and may God bless and protect our soldiers and their families.

Jonathan A. Lu

Memorial Day 2020

Dear Friends,

This Memorial Day, let us take a moment to remember and pray for those who have given their lives to protect our country. Let us remember their sacrifice, and pray for their family members, as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. 

I recently came across a poem called "Remember Them," written by Megan Sprigg, and wanted to share it with you: 

We will remember them,
The ones who stood tall,
Who fought for their country,
The ones who were willing to fall.

We will remember them,
The ones whose lives had shined,
Who were mighty and bold,
May the world be defined.

Look at all our nations,
Oh how far we've come,
As every person will stay in our hearts,
We shall stand one by one.

Thank you for supporting our soldiers; may God Bless you and your family and may God bless and protect our soldiers and their families.

Jonathan A. Lu

Memorial Day 2019

Dear Friends,

Today is Memorial Day. A day when we remember our brave servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

I came across an article written about Flanders poppies. These flowers spring up just around the time of Memorial Day, and it's traditionally been a symbol of fallen soldiers. 

Eric Scheie shared a poem by John McCrae called "In Flanders Field"

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The poem was published in 1915, and became an important symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers. Today, the poem reminds us to never forget the sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and women. 

This Memorial Day, let us take time to remember and pray for those who have given their lives to protect our country. Let us remember their sacrifice, and let us pray for their family members, as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. 

Thank you for supporting our soldiers; may God Bless you and your family and may God bless and protect our soldiers and their families.

Jonathan A. Lu

Veterans Day 2018

Dear Friends,

Today is Veterans Day. A day when we commemorate our brave servicemen and women for their courageous service.

I came across a poem by Cheryl Dyson, it’s a beautiful poem in honor of our nation’s heroes:

On Veterans Day we honor all

Who answered to a service call

Soldiers young, and soldiers old

Fought for freedom, brave and bold

Some have lived, while others died

And all of them deserve our pride

We’re proud of all the soldiers who

Kept thinking of red, white and blue

They fought for us and all our rights

They fought through many days and nights

And though we may not know each name

We thank ALL veterans just the same

If you meet a Veteran, please take the time to thank them and hear their story. For many of our heroes in uniform, the battle doesn’t end after they return home. Some veterans suffer from PTSD and homelessness – let’s do our best to support our heroes in uniform. Whether that’s through sending care packages, volunteering, or just saying thank you in person, we can all work together to appreciate our nation’s servicemen and women. Let’s make a promise to thank our brave soldiers, not just on Veterans Day, but every day!

Thank you for supporting our soldiers; may God Bless you and your family and may God bless and protect our soldiers and their families!

Jonathan A. Lu

Memorial Day 2018

Dear Friends,

Today is Memorial Day. It’s a day when many Americans take time to reflect on the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers who laid down their lives to protect our country.

Laying down your life for others. As a civilian, it’s hard to imagine the amount of bravery and selflessness it takes to make such a great sacrifice. It’s one of the many things that we admire about servicemen and women. That they have the courage, patriotism, and selflessness to put themselves in the line of fire to protect others. Every day, our servicemen and women lay down their lives for people that they might not even know and may never meet. People who might not even be aware of their sacrifice. People who might have never stopped and said thank you.

Memorial Day is a day that reminds us just how amazing our servicemen and women are. They sacrifice themselves for people like you and me, and they never ask for anything in return. No recognition, not even a thank you.

A friend of mine shared a heart-warming story about a WW2 Army Veteran and Medal of Honor Recipient. His name is Bill Crawford, and he worked as a squadron janitor at the US Air Force Academy during the 1970s. Mr. Crawford worked diligently, keeping the entire dormitory spotless. He did his job diligently and with honor. Unfortunately, due to his humble position, many people overlooked him.

This all changed when one cadet found out that Mr. Crawford, was in-fact a WW2 Army veteran who received the Medal of Honor. After this discovery, all the cadets took the time to say hi to Mr. Crawford. They even began to invite Mr. Crawford to formal squadron functions.

One cadet asked Mr. Crawford why he didn’t mention receiving a Medal of Honor. In response, Mr. Crawford said: “That was one day in my life and it happened a long time ago.”

Mr. Crawford was a silent hero. He didn’t ask for recognition, he never even mentioned his valiant service.

This story reminds us that there are unsung heroes among us. They might be a neighbor, an acquaintance, maybe even your janitor. Keep an eye out for these heroes among us. Let’s honor the example of Mr. Crawford by treating everyone with respect, and by thanking and supporting our brave servicemen and women.

God Bless,

Jonathan A. Lu

Here's a link to the full story of Mr. Crawford: 

http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles/profiles_crawford_10lessons.html    

Veterans Day 2017

Dear Friends,

Today is Veterans Day. A day where we take time to thank all who have served in our military – during both wartime and peace. I’ve been reading about servicemen and women in the different branches of the military, and thought I’d share some of the stories I have read. Some of these stories are tragic, while others are hopeful – all of these stories remind us about the deep sacrifices that our brave servicemen and women make for us on a daily basis.

Air Force: Devin Wilson was a veteran who courageously served in the Air Force. After completing his military service, he returned to civilian life to start a family. Although Mr. Wilson had completed his military service, he never stopped protecting the defenseless. In May 2017, Mr. Wilson was killed while protecting a women from being attacked by her abusive ex-boyfriend. He died while standing up for a complete stranger.

Army: Robert Ledbetter served as a scout sniper for the U.S. Army Rangers. He toured in Iraq, and is now a retired veteran. Mr. Ledbetter was one of the concert goers during the Las Vegas concert massacre. When he realized that there was a sniper in their midst, he began running to the aid of the wounded, administering first aid and applying tourniquets.

Coast Guard: Two U.S. Coastguardsmen, Petty Officer Scott Chism (age 25) and Seaman Chris Ferreby (age 23) died after their boat capsized during a law enforcement patrol through the Niagara River. Both of these young men had budding careers of service in their future. Both of these young men passed away before their time.

Marine Corps: Corporal David Qualls, was awarded the highest non-combat decoration for his courageous actions in saving a civilian from a dangerous car accident wreck. Corporal David Qualls came across a car wreck on the road, and swiftly came to the aid of the driver, Larry Flesher, who was pinned under his car. Had Corporal David Qualls not arrived at the scene, Larry Flesher would have been trapped in his car, which was beginning to catch fire.

Navy: During the tragic collision between the USS Fitzgerald and a commercial container ship on the Japanese coast, 34 Navy crew members were trapped in the USS Fitzgerald. Of which, only 27 were able to escape. Many of the escapees owe their lives to the brave efforts of their fellow crew members. The Department of the Navy released a report that describes the heroic efforts of sailors searching flooded cabins to rescue fellow crew members. Leaving no one behind, the brave sailors of the USS Fitzgerald dived back into the dark water to search for their fellow crew members.

National Guard: During the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the National Guard mobilized to help Puerto Rico as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands recover. Clearing highways, maintaining rule of law, and assisting with hurricane relief efforts, our National Guard is helping our fellow Americans in their time of need.

Let’s make a promise to spend Veterans Day being grateful for the sacrifices made by our U.S. soldiers.

God Bless,

Jonathan A. Lu

Independence Day 2017

Dear Friends,

Last month, I made a trip to New York to visit the city. During my time there, I had the chance to visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

Visiting the memorial left me speechless. Going inside the museum, seeing the twisted metal of the broken support beams of the Twin Towers, staring at the crumbling stone steps of the “Survivors’ Stairs,” which hundreds of survivors used to seek escape, it was overwhelming to see the remnants of the wreckage caused by the attack.  

Staring at the battered fire truck, partially crushed by falling debris, listening to the recordings of the phone calls between passengers on Flight 93 and their families, the experience left you sober and solemn.

Like many other members of Generation Z, I didn’t have a very clear picture of 9/11. Many members of Generation Z were too young to remember the attack. Before visiting the memorial, the only knowledge I had about 9/11 was from history books and online research. After walking through the museum, I now have a more clearer picture of the tragedy that occurred more than 15 years ago.

On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by extremists who opposed our freedoms and values. This incident reminds us that our freedoms, our liberties, our constitutional rights, are neither free nor guaranteed. There are many people in this world who oppose these freedoms, and there is a human cost and sacrifice to protect these freedoms. That cost is paid by American soldiers, who put their lives on the line to fight terrorism on a daily basis.

Currently, within the United States, there’s a lot of division, especially politically. To be clear, political debate is important – it is a key element of our constitutional rights. However, I think that as American citizens, it’s important for us to come together and unite over our shared beliefs and values. I think that one of the values that we can unite over is an appreciation for our U.S. servicemen and women.

Every U.S. citizen, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political party, should share an appreciation for U.S. veterans. These brave souls fight for us daily, they enter battlefields where others would flee, they engage the enemy to protect our freedoms and independence.

This Independence Day, let’s take a moment to reflect and appreciate everything that our U.S. servicemen and women do to protect our values and liberties. Appreciate the fact that we get to enjoy the holiday with our families. Because there is a soldier stationed abroad who is sacrificing time with her family to protect us during the holiday season. Appreciate the fact that we get to enjoy fireworks from the safety of our homes. Because there is a soldier out there facing another type of firework, enemy fire.

Let’s make a promise to spend Independence Day being grateful for the sacrifices made by our U.S. soldiers. By doing so, we can overcome political, racial, and religious divisions, and we can unite as a nation.

God Bless,

Jonathan A. Lu