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Love is something that you do for:
the ungrateful
the undeserving
the unworthy,
Without fanfare,
Without reservation,
Without guarantee.
I came across this quote the other day; I don’t know where it came from originally, but it speaks to me of the Army’s loving commitment to serving all in the name of Christ.
Read on to see a few examples of that compassionate service in the West…
DENVER CELEBRATES VETERANS DAY
Denver Citadel Corps Officer Captain Rob Reardon reports the Denver Citadel band participated in a Veterans Day celebration coinciding with the grand opening of the Aspen Grove shopping center in South Denver. The band played a variety of patriotic pieces as well as a number of well-known Thanksgiving hymns and Salvation Army marches. In addition to the music, the shopping center provided U.S. flag lapel pins for soldiers to hand out to those passing by.
DREAM DINNER
The Salvation Army in Santa Rosa, Calif., under the leadership of Corps Officers Captains Ian and Isobel Robinson, provided dinner and entertainment for more than 500 guests at their annual civic dinner where they celebrated “the dream” for the Army in Santa Rosa. Special entertainment and music was provided, with Keith Woods acting as master of ceremonies. A special tribute was given to Debbie Meekins and Sharon Wright, who received recognition for their community involvement.
SAN FRANCISCO RINGS BELLS
Celebrity Bell Ringing Day in San Francicso’s Union Square will take place December 7. According to SF public relations director Judy Vaughn, more than 200 media personalities, civic leaders, athletes, comics and entertainers will ring bells from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a number of locations surrounding the square. Media personality Terry Lowry is chair; San Francisco Deputy Chief of Protocol, Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, who created this event 21 years ago, is honorary chair.
CREATIVE FUND RAISING
Hanford, Calif., corps Envoy Lyle Morris has found a creative way to raise funds and spread the gospel. While standing at R&N Grocery next to a trailer supplied by Pepsi for the Army to provide curbside food service, Morris discovered that singing gospel songs and quoting scripture brought an appreciative audience. The following week, the Pepsi trailer was moved to Wal-Mart. Soon, Christian radio KARM came to do live reports from their Wal-Mart location, which were broadcast to an estimated 20,000 listeners. “I told the audience we were there to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ,” Morris said.
CATHEDRAL CITY ON PARADE
The Salvation Army of Cathedral City, Calif. marched in the Palm Springs Veterans Day parade. Envoys David and Dina Manriguez invited Lt. Colonels Don and Debi Bell to join them for their Sunday morning worship service and to stay on to march in the afternoon’s parade with the corps’ senior and junior soldiers. Newly-enrolled soldier Daniel Miro, carried the American flag and Sonya Rodriguez carried the Army’s flag.
The Army was well received by the crowds. Most veterans would stand to salute the nation’s flag and then recognize The Salvation Army. At one point, the parade stopped and a little girl in the crowd was heard to say: “When I grow up I want to be just like those Salvation Army people.” March on, Salvation Army!
SANTA MONICA’S FALL FUN
Over 80 adults and children attended the Santa Monica Fall Festival recently, held at the Santa Monica, Calif. corps. Soldier Joyce Garrison says it was refreshing to see the adults mingling with the youth, bringing the people together as a body of Christ.
Captain Marcey Hoffschneider reports that more than $800 was raised through donations for the event. “It was wonderful to see how the local community gave with such an open heart. One man commented, ‘This is the least I can do for such a great organization…always willing to help everyone else’.”
