by Leight Moran

a-l-stellhorn@msn.com

"For he has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who bought our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins." Colossians 1:13-14

HONORING GOD AND THOSE WHO PAID/PAY FOR OUR FREEDOM

I just got to thinking about this past July 4th celebration. I heard so many firecrackers, saw so many fireworks and so much partying going on in our little sub-division. Now that is fine, I guess. I never have liked the loud noises and all the commotion. A little bit of lighting some things is ok, but I enjoy a more subdued celebration. I enjoy the freedom of doing what I want on holidays such as the 4th.

August is the month many children go back to school or are getting ready to go back or start for the first time. This is a great freedom we have in our dearly beloved United States. We even have the freedom to homeschool our children.

Thinking along these lines I began to think about our REAL freedom!

God first gave humanity Freedom in the Garden of Eden. AND look what we did. We wanted to be like God and we really messed up and CONTINUE to mess up!

AND, I feel, of course, the most glorious freedom we receive, is that God gave His Son to us and Jesus gave His life so that we all could be FREE from Satan’s hold, if only we believe and turn to Him.

God also allows many of His children (by giving those children "free choice") to suffer and give their lives for all of us so we can be free from the shackles of sinful men who try to "chain" us in silence. We, as Americans, have so many rights given to us because many men and woman chose to give their lives so that we do have the freedoms to voice our opinions, to achieve whatever we make up our minds to achieve without villainous people holding us in the chains of bondage.

I want to tell you a story about my best friend's father. God gave me freedom to make a choice and I think I made a choice that would upset my ex-husband and I was afraid to tell him of that choice. In my earlier years I was emotionally and verbally abused and it took me almost 30 years to break the chains of abuse. Oh, so many women have suffered through this type of abuse and that of physical abuse. We, as women, have the choice to leave, but no matter what, society does put a stigma on women who do leave, especially in my age range, at that time in society. The fact I was working as a social worker at the time gave me courage to leave an abusive relationship. God covered me all the way. It was hard, very hard! However the fear of my ex-husband and the fear of leaving was nothing compared to Y3Richard C. McVay's experience in World War II.

I met Y3Richard C. McVay in the 1970’s, I do not remember the specific date, however, I do remember the specific incident he talked with me when I was terribly upset and crying uncontrollably, a few years later in 1977.

You see I had bought myself a dress while Richard’s daughter, Charlotte, and I were in Kansas trying to locate a house for us to rent, as my family and I were moving there from Indiana. I was afraid to tell my ex-husband I had spent the money. In returning from Kansas we stopped at Charlotte's folks, close to Indianapolis, to spend a night, before returning to northern Indiana.

Mr. McVay came into the bedroom where I was trying to rest, but could not. He was a man full of good laughter and kind words. He convinced me how foolish I was to get so upset over such a small thing. I was more of a 50's wife then, but grew up in my later years. Needless to say, I now understand fully why Mr. McVay looked upon my situation as not very serious, no matter what the consequences of my choice.

For you see, Y3Richard C. McVay was on the USS Indianapolis when she was hit and sank. I wish I would have talked to Mr. McVay more about this, but I never did, however, my best friend in my whole life is his daughter Charlotte.

God brought Charlotte into my life when I was very much lost. Charlotte did not like me and shortly after meeting me she attended a church retreat and during that retreat the women were suppose to pray for someone they did not particularly care for or understand. Charlotte prayed for me.

So, you see if Y3Richard C. McVay had not been saved from the sea, perhaps, I would not have been saved either.

Charlotte told me where her father normally slept on the ship was the place the torpedo struck and had not Capt. Charles McVay taken a liking to Richard McVay and promoted him to Y3McVay, Richard would have been killed.

Capt. McVay was impressed with Richard and also noted that their last names were spelled the same way, which is not the norm in spelling McVay.

Not only did Y3Richard McVay calm my fears, he basically is part of the reason I am "alive" today. For without his daughter, I would be lost. And where does this all start? It all starts with God.

God gives us freedom of choices and we make foolish as well as right and just choices. We can mess up our lives, but we can always turn back to Him.

Please take time EVERYDAY to think about the many men and women who have sacrificed their lives and limbs for your freedom. As I write this, men and women are still dying for this freedom while we do our daily living, not realizing the truth behind our freedom. How sad that we take such little time to stop and reflect on just what this Freedom means.

Think about the people who died all along the path to American’s Freedom. Think about the men in the shark infested waters.

"Of the 1,196 aboard, about 900 made it into the water in the twelve minutes before she sank. Few life rafts were released. Most survivors wore the standard kapok life jacket. Shark attacks began with sunrise of the first day, and continued until only 316 men were still alive when rescued, almost five days later.’’ (USS Indianapolis.org)

Yes,Y3Richard C. McVay, I honor you and all your fellow service men and women who suffered and gave so much of their lives for MY freedom.

Freedom is given to us by God and then our brothers and sisters strive with their lives to protect that God given freedom my friends. Please remember to bow your heads in honor and prayer, foremost for our Lord Jesus’ suffering and for all the men and women who have suffered as well as protected us, each day! Please go to USS Indianapolis.org and read the "rest of the story."

Could you pay the price? Could you join Jesus on the cross? Could you endure what Y3Richard C. McVay and his shipmates endured for almost 5 days? Think about that, my friends, think about that.


Good night Y3Richard C. McVay, I know you and your many shipmates and those who gave their lives for our Freedom are in Heaven.

God bless you my friends.


Love and
I remain His humble servant,
Leigh Moran

Copyright Leigh Moran