Dear Class Member,

This past Tuesday was Veterans Day. That news gives us an opportunity to consider from a biblical point of view the service veterans gave the nation, the importance of remembrance and our ongoing obligation to those who served. So those will be the topics of our next class.

If you wish to begin thinking about our topic in advance, below is some introductory material.

Nation Observes Veterans Day

The Wired Word for November 16, 2008

In the News

Tuesday was Veterans Day, an observance dating from the signing of the armistice to end World War I, which was known at the time as the "Great War," and the "War to end all wars." President George W. Bush marked the day by speaking at the Manhattan pier that is home to the World War II aircraft carrier Intrepid. He praised veterans past and present who have defended U.S. liberty.

In Europe, where the day is called Armistice Day, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, Britain's Prince Charles, German Parliament Speaker Peter Muller and Australia's Governor General Quentin Bryce held a joint remembrance ceremony at France's Fort Douaumont, where more than 300,000 men died in over 300 days during the Battle of Verdun of the Great War.

President-elect Barack Obama, accompanied by a wounded Iraq War veteran and director of the Department of Veterans Affairs for Illinois Tammy Duckworth, went to Soldier Field in Chicago and placed a wreath in front of the bronze Soldiers Memorial there.

The armistice ending hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, and in America, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as a day of remembrance, with the first observance taking place in 1919. After World War II, President Eisenhower renamed Armistice Day to Veterans Day, expanding the day of memory to commemorate the sacrifices of all those who have served their country.

President Wilson declared, "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations ..."

In related news, organizations such as the National Alliance of Families for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen and P.O.W. Network continue to honor veterans by seeking the return of service personnel who are still missing and unaccounted for. Such groups have located and identified the remains of over 400 veterans, and interred 350 with military honors.

As of this Veterans Day, there are only 10 veterans of World War I worldwide still living, and only one in the United States.

The U.S veteran is Frank Buckles, who is 107 and living in West Virginia. On Tuesday, Buckles went to Arlington National Cemetery, saying he considered it his duty to represent his fellow soldiers.

More on this story may be found at these links:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/11/11/world.war.one.armistice/index.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/11/ap/preswho/main4592388.shtml

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/11/war.vets.photos/index.html

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/11/obamas_veterans_day_soldier_fi.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/11/11/last.WWI.veteran/

http://www.powmia.com/pow-mia-support-groups.html

The Big Questions

Here are some of the questions we will discuss in class:

1. In addition to honoring the actual participants, what other values does an official day for remembrance of veterans promote?

2. How does warfare fit with your understanding of the Christian faith? What is your church's position about your members' participation in the nation's wars?

3. Is it important to distinguish between the merits of any particular war and the regard we have for those who serve in the military during the conflict? Why or why not?

4. What does your church or denomination do to work toward a time when armed conflicts will cease?

5. What ought days of remembrance cause us to do about future wars?

Confronting the News with Scripture

We will look at selected verses from these Scripture texts. You may wish to read these in advance for background:

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Mark 13:3-8

Matthew 8:5-13

Luke 14:25-33

Acts 21:27-36

In class, we will talk about these passages and look for some insight on the big questions, as well as talk about other questions you may have about this topic. Please join us.