Army Chaplain Corps 240th Anniversary
I just want to express how awesome it is to be a part of this corps, to be able to speak truth in love into Soldiers lives and to see God's kingdom grow for His glory...
Heavenly Father, I pray that You continue to watch over the men and women in uniform that serve You above all else and that through their service to country, Your name is glorified and Your will is done. Surround them with Your divine protection from both the physical and spiritual enemies of this day. Thank You for Your unconditional love, unmerited mercy, and bountiful grace that You have shown in Your Son...for "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life..." In THIS name I pray. Amen!
During the early days of the Revolutionary War that led to our great Nation's independence, General George Washington called for the establishment of the Chaplain Corps to minister to the men who braved harsh conditions and incredible odds to fight for the freedom of their families and their Nation.
On July 29, 1775, the Continental Congress responded to that call. The initial Army Chaplain Corps would later expand to every branch of America's armed services.
The very existence of the Chaplain Corps and its persistence over the last 240 years says much about our Nation's view of the fighting force.
From the beginning, America has understood that our warfighters are not only soldiers, but whole human beings whose hearts and souls need just as much care as their bodies.
Chaplains have served in all of America's conflicts and major wars and engagements, from the colonial era to the battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hundreds of chaplains have laid down their lives for our Nation.
Chaplains are not simply people of faith who decide to minister in the military. Chaplains are professionals who have had extensive religious education as well as experience walking with people through the challenges of life.
Candidates for chaplain must receive an ecclesiastical endorsement from their faith group that testifies to his or her spiritual, moral, intellectual, and emotional preparedness to serve as a chaplain. They must possess a graduate degree in theological or religious studies.
Furthermore, each potential chaplain must demonstrate their commitment to a free exercise of religion by all military personnel while, at the same time, adhering to all military standards of conduct and physical training.
In a very real sense, chaplains serve on the front lines in the battle to ensure religious liberty in our pluralistic society.
Chaplains are there for those of faith and for those of no faith. Chaplains are there for the people who serve us.
In war and peace, chaplains provide our servicemembers and their families with prayer, counsel, guidance, sacraments, and sometimes just simply a shoulder to cry on.
The Chaplain Corps and its vital role in the United States Armed Forces is a matter near and dear to my heart for, since 2002, I have had the privilege of serving the United States Air Force Reserve as a military chaplain.
I volunteered to serve the men and women of the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a chaplain because I believe the calling of all is to serve how we can in the best way we can. The freedoms of our country have asked no less of us.
Chaplains have the honor of serving every member of the Armed Forces who might cross their path. We see the military from a very unique perspective.
We hear young enlisted soldiers and seasoned officers ask similar questions of faith and family. They speak of all-too-familiar family challenges and the struggles that they, too, go through.
As members of the military ourselves, chaplains certainly are not blind to rank. But given our focus on the unseen, our care for the soul, we do have a tendency to see more of what binds our fighting force together as fellow sojourners in this life than anything that might separate them.
You see, our challenges take us from the very war rooms and the very inner circles of commanders preparing for battle to the very newest who serve just on a guard.
As I did in Iraq back in 2008, it was my privilege to see some of our best and brightest serving at night in the middle of a land far away from home. One in particular sticks out.
When she came, I first met her. She was there, arriving late.
When she got there, I was sort of wondering: Why did you come late from your unit? She said: Well, sir, I had a little bit of a delay.
And I said: Well, what was that? I was just curious.
She said: Well, just a few months ago, I had my little baby girl.
And I thought for just a moment.
She said: But I was wanting to be here because I have trained and I didn't want to let my fellow members down.
So for the rest of that time, I was there with her. Over those next few months, we explored and I saw through pictures the life of a mother separated from her young child, but watching the experiences of growth as she not only served her country, but she served as a mom.
It has been a tremendous blessing to see and to honor the commitment of our fellow chaplains, chaplains who go when they are told to go. They commit themselves to serving when others are in need.
And those are the kinds of stories that the Chaplain Corps' birthday celebrates for me. It is seeing men and women who take their faith seriously, but also take the Constitution seriously when religious liberties are protected. Those are things worth standing up for. It is truly a blessing.
The men and women who have poured their lives into the servicemembers and their families over the last 240 years have made a profound impact on our military and our entire Nation.
It is with that thought in mind that I wish every member of the Chaplain Corps the very best on this special occasion.
Chaplains, wherever you are today, as one who serves with you, you serve a vital role. Keep it up. Keep protecting our Constitution, and keep taking care of the Nation, who sends their best young men and young women to protect us for the very privilege of sitting in this Chamber, speaking today, and being a part of it.
May the Chaplain Corps continue to provide a strong spiritual, moral, and ethical compass for the United States Army and Armed Forces for many centuries to come. And as one who serves, may I just say, bless them all in peace as they go about their work.
Heavenly Father, I pray that You continue to watch over the men and women in uniform that serve You above all else and that through their service to country, Your name is glorified and Your will is done. Surround them with Your divine protection from both the physical and spiritual enemies of this day. Thank You for Your unconditional love, unmerited mercy, and bountiful grace that You have shown in Your Son...for "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life..." In THIS name I pray. Amen!
Chaplain Corps' 240Th Anniversary
Posted on 2015-07-27
COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 240th birthday of the military Chaplain Corps.
On July 29, 1775, the Continental Congress responded to that call. The initial Army Chaplain Corps would later expand to every branch of America's armed services.
The very existence of the Chaplain Corps and its persistence over the last 240 years says much about our Nation's view of the fighting force.
From the beginning, America has understood that our warfighters are not only soldiers, but whole human beings whose hearts and souls need just as much care as their bodies.
Chaplains have served in all of America's conflicts and major wars and engagements, from the colonial era to the battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hundreds of chaplains have laid down their lives for our Nation.
Chaplains are not simply people of faith who decide to minister in the military. Chaplains are professionals who have had extensive religious education as well as experience walking with people through the challenges of life.
Candidates for chaplain must receive an ecclesiastical endorsement from their faith group that testifies to his or her spiritual, moral, intellectual, and emotional preparedness to serve as a chaplain. They must possess a graduate degree in theological or religious studies.
Furthermore, each potential chaplain must demonstrate their commitment to a free exercise of religion by all military personnel while, at the same time, adhering to all military standards of conduct and physical training.
In a very real sense, chaplains serve on the front lines in the battle to ensure religious liberty in our pluralistic society.
Chaplains are there for those of faith and for those of no faith. Chaplains are there for the people who serve us.
In war and peace, chaplains provide our servicemembers and their families with prayer, counsel, guidance, sacraments, and sometimes just simply a shoulder to cry on.
The Chaplain Corps and its vital role in the United States Armed Forces is a matter near and dear to my heart for, since 2002, I have had the privilege of serving the United States Air Force Reserve as a military chaplain.
I volunteered to serve the men and women of the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a chaplain because I believe the calling of all is to serve how we can in the best way we can. The freedoms of our country have asked no less of us.
Chaplains have the honor of serving every member of the Armed Forces who might cross their path. We see the military from a very unique perspective.
We hear young enlisted soldiers and seasoned officers ask similar questions of faith and family. They speak of all-too-familiar family challenges and the struggles that they, too, go through.
As members of the military ourselves, chaplains certainly are not blind to rank. But given our focus on the unseen, our care for the soul, we do have a tendency to see more of what binds our fighting force together as fellow sojourners in this life than anything that might separate them.
You see, our challenges take us from the very war rooms and the very inner circles of commanders preparing for battle to the very newest who serve just on a guard.
As I did in Iraq back in 2008, it was my privilege to see some of our best and brightest serving at night in the middle of a land far away from home. One in particular sticks out.
When she came, I first met her. She was there, arriving late.
When she got there, I was sort of wondering: Why did you come late from your unit? She said: Well, sir, I had a little bit of a delay.
And I said: Well, what was that? I was just curious.
She said: Well, just a few months ago, I had my little baby girl.
And I thought for just a moment.
She said: But I was wanting to be here because I have trained and I didn't want to let my fellow members down.
So for the rest of that time, I was there with her. Over those next few months, we explored and I saw through pictures the life of a mother separated from her young child, but watching the experiences of growth as she not only served her country, but she served as a mom.
It has been a tremendous blessing to see and to honor the commitment of our fellow chaplains, chaplains who go when they are told to go. They commit themselves to serving when others are in need.
And those are the kinds of stories that the Chaplain Corps' birthday celebrates for me. It is seeing men and women who take their faith seriously, but also take the Constitution seriously when religious liberties are protected. Those are things worth standing up for. It is truly a blessing.
The men and women who have poured their lives into the servicemembers and their families over the last 240 years have made a profound impact on our military and our entire Nation.
It is with that thought in mind that I wish every member of the Chaplain Corps the very best on this special occasion.
Chaplains, wherever you are today, as one who serves with you, you serve a vital role. Keep it up. Keep protecting our Constitution, and keep taking care of the Nation, who sends their best young men and young women to protect us for the very privilege of sitting in this Chamber, speaking today, and being a part of it.
May the Chaplain Corps continue to provide a strong spiritual, moral, and ethical compass for the United States Army and Armed Forces for many centuries to come. And as one who serves, may I just say, bless them all in peace as they go about their work.
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