"War is hell; there's no other way to put it", he proclaimed with a firm grip and passion in his eyes.
Today, I attended the funeral of a beloved 94 year old woman. This woman had been married to her precious little husband for over 66 years. She had class, sass, and a heart of gold – that was evident.
The hardest part about a funeral is the final goodbye. To only say "I love you" one last time was all he wanted.
I stood back with hands clasped and tear filled eyes as I listened to this rough and tough WWII veteran sit and sob, "this is the hardest thing that I've ever gone through."
There he sat, lonely for the first time in over 66 years.
He knows nothing but love.
Funny thing is, this heroic widower, one who had been part of the original invasion in 1942 had seen 'Hitler's guns mow us down', hundreds of boys frozen, mutilated, and murdered in cold blood, and endured the coldest nights waking to the blood curdled screams of his closest friends – he was doing the loving at this funeral, the hugging, kissing, and speaking into the lives of others. Every time I turned around, I saw him putting a smile on others' faces, pulling out the gold in them, telling jokes and stories, and making sure that everyone knew the true love of God – his sole reason for existence. I've never seen such joy in a frail old man, such zeal to spread God's passion on hearts.
I didn't know what to do as I sat back and watched, but if there was one thing about this little old man that everyone knew, it's that he had been loved, therefore he loved others.
Through the blood and guts, hell and horror, this man had experienced true love – well over 66 years of it. Harry Scroggs knows the value of love from woman to Savior, and he is living proof that man would do anything for love that he wouldn't do for duty.
You can fight for my country and give me liberty but the essence of a true hero is this – you love well.
