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Before I get into other business of this particular Gig Line, I first want to thank the red blooded, flag loving, patriotic, Bible believing folks who have taken the time to write or text me and comment on my column … thank you. To those who have never or may never comment one way or the other … that is okay too!

Some may see that I talk about my faith and question for a minute “Why is she discussing her religion or her prayer life? What does that have to do with veterans?” Well, my friends, it is like this … I understand that whether you believe in God, and His love and forgiveness or not, I do and so did my parents, my husband who traipsed through the jungles of Vietnam seeing the unthinkable, who alongside many of his brave brothers suffered the horrors they did who also leaned on their faith, their prayers and the prayers of their loved ones at home that could only pray hard they would see their father, husband, son, brother and best friend come home with them. The many nurses who witnessed tragedy and sacrifice day in and day out who held the hand of those who were dying offered heartfelt yet unlikely hope that they would be all right prayed too.

I understand there are people in this world who have no interest in religion or faith or the reassurance the Bible offers us, and it hurts my heart to think of it. In that case, it makes me wonder … did they have such a carefree life that they never experienced devastation, heartache, or loss of a loved one? Were they so untouched by suffering and loss that they never felt the need to pray or that it would be useless to do so? Or that God and His son Jesus doesn’t even exist? Or is it because they have seen so much heartache that they stopped believing altogether? In either case, it is up to us to decide for ourselves.

What do people do when a close member becomes ill or is badly hurt? Where do they turn for comfort, peace and hope? In 1993, my left leg went numb after suffering excruciating pain in order to take a step and I had to lift it perpendicular to my waist in order not to trip. Billy had massaged it, applied cold packs, hot packs, ointments, creams, everything he could to alleviate my agony then after a local doctor wrote prescriptions for muscle relaxers to no avail, I accepted I had to seek help. I was afraid, nearly terrified because my maternal grandfather had died with multiple myeloma in his back. I finally made an appointment with a neurosurgeon in Norfolk, Va. and he diagnosed three ruptured disks. Upon his first exam, he told my sweet Billy that I was on the verge of being a paraplegic and he scheduled my surgery to take place within two days. I had tried my hardest to avoid going to see him, but the pain was so intense I would have to shut my office doors and lay on a blanket on the floor sometimes just to make my workday bearable and take the pressure off of my spine.

Billy knew I was scared and why and he held me close and prayed for me in bed at night. The following day I began to call every Bible believing family member and friend I had and asked for prayer; then I called a dear friend who was one of my real estate clients who had been calling to check on me. I knew he did not talk about the Lord all the years I had known he and his wife, but I knew he was a good man who cared. So, when I called him that day and asked him to pray for me, he said, “Okay but I don’t know what good it will do. I don’t do much of that and I don’t know if He’ll hear me.” I said, “Yes, I believe He will hear you and that He knows you may not pray a lot but that is why I think He’ll especially listen to every word!” So, he said he would, and I felt touched and blessed.

The very next day Billy and I went to Norfolk General in the wee hours of the morning and upon arrival I prepped for surgery. Before the nurses wheeled me into the operating room, my surgeon came in to assure me that everything would be okay and not to worry. Then I asked him, “Will you pray for me?” He answered, “Yes, I have been, but I will again before I start!” He smiled and patted my shoulder, which comforted me and made me less afraid of the procedure and the outcome. When the surgery was over, I felt reassured that God heard his prayers too. I was happy it was behind me and I felt so much better even though I had a big, long scar on my backside.

Life is unpredictable folks … life can be hard at times, but life is precious and having that inner faith and prayer time with the Lord when no one else can hear you cannot be measured. It is profound and the outcome of prayer, the timing and even the answer not always when and what we hoped for is still a blessing because putting our troubles in our Father’s hands helps … a whole lot. I am glad that my incredible husband had faith in God, someone he could talk to in the dark when he was alongside his brothers amid gunfire, death and destruction holding his breath that he would see America and his loving home once again.

When The Wall That Heals was here in Nags Head last November 2023, I read a Facebook post that shocked me to my core. It started out praising the awesome event and how proud they were of it, but then the comment went on to say the writer of the post did not understand why there had to be white crosses out by the American flags. I read that post two or three times and then I broke down and cried. Dear Lord, I thought, how and why would those beautiful white crosses be offensive to ANYONE? Why? Then, I thought for a minute that the person who commented their dismay seeing the crosses out there may not have ever leaned on a cross or reached out to the Savior who died on it so we could be forgiven. Then I felt even more sad and almost responded explaining the relativity of what the symbol of faith meant to so many of our veterans in wartime everywhere throughout our history. I wanted to tell whomever wrote that comment that the reason the white crosses were purposely placed beside the American flags was to give family members of those whose names were etched on The Wall That Heals or who died after coming home from the Vietnam War could write their names on the crosses with a black Sharpie pen in remembrance of them and the loss of their lives fighting against communism, tyranny and oppression and to protect the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted here at home all too often.

When I collected myself and stopped crying, I went back to Facebook to speak my mind, but the post had been taken down. I was glad. It was hurtful. Perhaps that person had not suffered the loss so many of us who were there had suffered. Good for them. Then I prayed for whomever had written it … it was after all their opinion and our country, though it has its faults, had always defended and allowed free speech … at least it used to.

As a country that has always fought threats to our democracy and put our adversaries on notice, it’s more clear than ever that we need to get back on track and have the guts to stand up for our flag, our American way of life and stop allowing FEAR to consume our every waking moment.

As a veteran, please locate your DD-214 to make sure you have it on hand in the event you, your spouse or family might need it someday when it is critical to have it accessible. Patty O’Sullivan, Dare County veteran service officer, office: (252) 475-5604; cell: (252) 473-7749 or email: patricia.o’sullivan@darenc.com, stresses to all the veterans she meets with to understand that should a medical condition or serious illness arise, it takes time for veteran enrollment and depending on the situation, it could be too late to be of much needed help. PLEASE consider talking with her about enrolling in the V.A. health care system. If you cannot locate your DD-214, she can assist you in acquiring one, however, she will need your acknowledgement that you want her to request it. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT ladies and gentlemen.

Please see the flyer attached to this Gig Line and save the date! Plan to attend, support or help in any way that you can. It is a very worthy fundraiser September 1-8, 2024 and especially on the night of Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Roanoke Island Festival Park on behalf of our veterans! Repairs are very much needed at our American Legion Post 26 in Kill Devil Hills, so please help. In advance, I thank you!

Until next time, be healthy, safe and happy. Remember that God loves us no matter what mistakes we have made in life, asking God’s forgiveness is little for what He has done and is willing to do for us. Please pray for our troops’ safety wherever they may be and pray for our political candidates and for our nation. Call/text me if you want to talk: (252)-202-2058 or email: giglineheroes@aol.com. I love you all! God bless you and your loved ones. Stay tuned!

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