I was reminded of the power of the spoken word this week. After learning of Valley of Life’s new affiliate, BroadcastBio, I spent some time on their web site reading content, but I mostly listened to their service demos. I was struck by how meaningful and moving a personally-scripted audio message could be, specifically a message like the one on the Memorials page.
For many Americans, July 4th is a day of celebration. Yet, for others, it is another reminder of loved ones lost in service to our country. Like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, our Independence Day not only celebrates the freedoms we have here in the United States of America, but it also honors those who founded and fought for those freedoms.
As we pause today to remember the brave men and women who valiantly served our country fighting abroad in order to preserve peace and justice, we find ourselves thankful, humbled, and deeply indebted to their service and sacrifice. Today, Memorial Day (formerly known as Decoration Day), is the day we remember those men and women who died in military service. Originally adopted to honor those who died during the Civil War, after World War I, the federal holiday was expanded to honor any American casualty of any war.
The man who created the black and white POW-MIA flag, Newt Heisley, passed away Thursday morning at his home in Colorado Springs, according to a local paper. He was 88.
Wayman Tisdale, 44, died yesterday morning after a two-year bout with cancer. The three-time Oklahoma all-American played 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns. At 6′9”, the forward averaged 15.3 points a game and was a dominant presence on the court. A fan-favorite, Tisdale also won gold as a member of the U.S. basketball team at the 1984 Olympics.
