Grace Pointe Church Celebrates Veterans

Grace Pointe Community Church of God hosted its annual veterans service this past Sunday, Nov. 12. Pastor Josh Kirksey welcomed the packed church to the ceremony.

"We pray for our vets and are so very thankful for them, not just today, but everyday," Kirksey said.

Kirksey then introduced a slideshow put on by church member and Martinsburg Mayor Rich Brantner Sr. with military church members. Each branch – the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and Air Force - was recognized. Veterans who attended the event were given a special gift from the church by some of the church's youth and by Representative Jim Gregory and Blair County Commissioner Amy Webster. Following this, the fight songs of each branch of the military played for a rousing from the crowd.

Kirksey introduced the keynote speaker of the event – Pastor Bobby Duncan.

"I've known him for a long time," Kirksey said. "Not just part of my family, but he's also my friend."

According to Kirksey, Duncan, who has authored over ten books is "a man of God."

Duncan started out his sermon by thanking the many Veterans who were in the audience.

"Every time I see a vet, I always thank him or her for serving our country," Duncan said, noting that you can usually tell a Veteran by his or her cap. "It does my heart good to say thank you."

Duncan continued his sermon by talking about sacrifice, especially with regard to Romans 12:1.

"In a perfect world, we wouldn't need a military. In a perfect world, we wouldn't need police, no first responders or government officials. The fact is we don't live in a perfect world. We need the men who have or are currently donning that uniform."

Duncan said that Hollywood and the movies glamorize war and being in the military.

"There is beauty and honor in the spirit of sacrificial service. We are not celebrating war. God is opposed to war and hatred. On this day, we are celebrating the willingness to serve, and the disposition to lay down for a cause."

Duncan told the crowd that before he was born, care packages would be sent overseas to the military. His mom prepared and sent a package for her brother, Duncan's uncle. Before he ever received the package, his mother was told of her brother's passing in Italy in October of 1944. He remembers his mother recounting when the mailman returned the package to her, and the mailman said it was the hardest part of his job.

Duncan remembers his uncle's military picture being in his family's home from that point forward.

Duncan talked about the data regarding the Medal of Honor, saying that 55 percent given are posthumously, as those who receive the medal, "died earning it in combat."

Duncan closed his sermon with how moved he was by the church's annual veterans service.

"I am moved every time I hear those fight songs, and every single time I hear the pledge of allegiance."

Following the service, a fellowship meal was provided to church members and Veterans from the area.