Gratitude

I think today was a day where I was reminded over and over again of God's faithfulness and His blessings. I wish you were all here with us, experiencing the awe and wonder of our nation's capital.

Another hot, humid, sticky day in the nation's capital...the day began with an early breakfast and on the bus again downtown. We spent the morning in the Capitol building, with visits to the Rotunda (where the presidents lie in state), viewing magnificent artwork, statues, and hearing the history of our nation's beginning. It just boggles the mind with how these great statesmen and thinkers laid the foundation for our country. The choir commented over and over when they saw things that reminded them that our country was founded on biblical principles. In God We Trust.

Following a quick lunch in the Capitol cafeteria, we boarded the bus and made our way to Arlington National Cemetery. While we were at Arlington, members from the choir were to participate in the wreath laying ceremony, which was at 3:15 p.m. We rode a tram around the cemetery, saw where John F. Kennedy was buried, and also saw where many other dignitaries were buried. It's an awe-inspiring sight to see row upon row of white tombstones, each one the same, all perfectly aligned.

At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, we took our places as we waited for Barbara and Lorin Lee, Warren Druetzler and Kenny Simon to represent the choir by placing the wreath at the tomb. We chose them to place the wreath, as they are all veterans. As you can tell from the picture, they took this very seriously and got rid of the choir "uniform" and put on suit coats and dress clothes to participate. The choir stood and watched quietly as the guard kept his watch and the changing of the guard took place at the 1/2 hour. At 3:15pm, the guard announced that the wreath laying ceremony was going to take place and that the wreath was being given by the Southport Presbyterian Choir. I don't think there was a dry eye in the choir as we solemnly watched our friends place the wreath, bearing the colors of our choir robes (purple and periwinkle blue).

As we were ready to board the tram and head back to the bus, a funeral cortege processed by. Horses pulled a cart with a black fabric-draped casket. We all stood silently as we watched. It was a sobering experience to see. The entire experience at Arlington was very moving for all of us, each of us with different perceptions of what we saw, but everyone grateful for the experience and the sacrifices made.

Later in the evening, we performed our final concert at a place called Vinson Hall. It was another military retirement facility, but a little more intimate setting than we sang in at the Fairfax. The concert went well and was well-received. Several of the choir members made new friends, heard some very interesting stories and I can't tell who was blessed more...them or us.

Back in the hotel room, cooling off and reflecting, I am grateful. Grateful for so many things...for friends, fellowship, music, laughter, sacrifice, humility, service, salvation...the list goes on and on. Our God is good, faithful through the ages, loving us and giving more to us that we deserve. Deuteronomy 32:3-4 was one of our scripture passages for today in our journal: I will proclaim the name of the LORD; how glorious is our God! He is the Rock; his work is perfect. Everything he does is fair and just. He is a faithful God who does no wrong, how just and upright he is!

Prayer requests for today: continue to pray for Sally and her back - it's slowly getting better; praise that Joann felt much better today. Pray for travel mercies for us as we begin our journey home.

Tomorrow will be our last day in Washington. We're planning to go to the Library of Congress to see the Nuremburg Bible (among other things), to the Holocaust Museum and also the Air and Space Museum and the Indian Museum.