MilitarySpot.com

Serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard

Online Schools
| Find Jobs
Follow MilitarySpot:
 
  • Home
  • Enlist
    • Join The Army
    • Join The Navy
    • Join The Air Force
    • Join The Marines
    • Join The Coast Guard
    • Join The National Guard
    • ASVAB
    • Army Physical Fitness Test
    • Military Draft
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
  • Career
    • Join the Military
    • Jobs for Military and Civilians
    • Career Center
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
    • Criminal Justice
  • Education
    • Online Schools
    • Spouse Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • Military Schools
    • Criminal Justice
  • Benefits
    • Army Benefits
    • Navy Benefits
    • Air Force Benefits
    • Marine Corps Benefits
    • National Guard Benefits
    • Coast Guard Benefits
    • 2012 Basic Pay Rates
    • Allowances
    • Special & Incentive Pay
    • Military Spouse Education Benefits
    • VA Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
  • News
    • Headline News
    • Army News
    • Marines News
    • Airforce News
  • Finance
    • Debt Relief
    • Military Pay Rates
    • Military Personal Loans
    • VA Loans
    • Military Star Card
    • Military MyPay
  • Spouses
    • School Finder
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • PCS, DITY, & Moving
    • Pay Rates
    • MyCAA
    • Education Benefits
  • Community
    • Military Games
    • Military Reunions
    • Classifieds
    • Photo Gallery
    • Buddy Finder
    • MilitarySpot Pinups
    • Military Bases
  • Resources
    • Military Alphabet
    • Military Reunions
    • Military Acronyms
    • Currency Converter
    • Military Tools
    • Ranks
    • Military Time
    • Military Tactics
    • Military Discounts
    • Military Games
    • Military Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Infographics
    • How To
  • Travel

Air Force Chaplain Faces Unique Challenges

By Chaplain (Capt.) Christian LaPaul Williams

Arlington National Cemetery, Va

When I first heard of Arlington National Cemetery I immediately thought of honoring veterans and fallen comrades. I didn’t realize the true significance of my role in comforting their families as well. Also, I didn’t comprehend how challenging that would be.

Contact a Recruiter!

Sure, as a chaplain I believed that I was capable of speaking with and providing comfort to the families. I’m certainly able to highlight the sacrifices of the veterans and active duty members for the just cause of freedom. I also know how to comfort the families with the knowledge that the Air Force is their extended family.

But one day I performed a service that challenged me in a way that I had never been challenged before.

I was assigned to a service that required me to give a committal for a stillborn baby boy, whose father was an active duty member. He and his wife had three other children who were 8 years old, 6 years old, and 18 months old.

Do you have Prior Military Service? The NAVY Wants You!

I contacted the family to extend my condolences and see if there was any information that they might want me to share at the committal. The parents only had one request – to make the committal service kid friendly. I pondered how to fulfill this unique request.

I began to conduct research, to no avail. Then it dawned on me that I needed to go back to my foundation, which is my faith. I prayed and asked God to help me to minister to this family, particularly their children.

My faith in God, through my answered prayer, gave me what I needed to minister to this family. I kneeled down in front of the children at the service, and asked them to tell me their favorite character. The oldest told me “a princess.” The middle child said “Star Wars.” The youngest pointed to an iPhone with a picture of Elmo on the screen and said “Elmo.”

The two oldest children, at my urging, then gave me more specific names of their heroes as it relates to these characters.

Afterwards, I pointed to the white marble stones surrounding the gravesite and explained that the stones represented our nation’s heroes.

I told them we were there on that day to honor another hero. I asked them if they knew to whom I was referring and the 8 year old, with tears rolling down her red cheeks, said “my brother.” I agreed with her, and told them that heroes always showed up when they were needed, and that their brother was watching over them.

With my voice cracking and full of emotion I said that their brother will always remain in their hearts and whenever they needed him – their hero – would always show up. The family and I then grabbed hands and prayed as I gave the final committal of their stillborn child.

This ministry opportunity has changed my life forever. Now, I fully understand my mission. I am humbled and proud to serve on the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.

Related Posts:

  • Brunch Focuses on Military FamiliesBrunch Focuses on Military Families
  • 15th Anniversary of Women’s Memorial15th Anniversary of Women’s Memorial
  • Honoring Our VeteransHonoring Our Veterans
  • Month of the Military Child in April Recognizes Young Family MembersMonth of the Military Child in April Recognizes Young Family
  • Sacrifices of the Military Child Recognized During AprilSacrifices of the Military Child Recognized During April
  • Proclamation and Parade Celebrates Military’s Youngest WarriorsProclamation and Parade Celebrates Military’s Youngest

Comments

Filed Under: Air Force, News

First Name:
Email:
 
  • News
  • Enlist
  • Education
  • Career
  • Finance

DoD Must Be More Agile in Technology Development

APRIL 19, 2018, Washington D.C. – The Defense Department must embrace a more agile approach to technology development to keep pace with rapidly evolving adversaries, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering told lawmakers yesterday. Michael D. Griffin appeared before the House Armed Services Committee for a hearing on promoting DoD’s culture of innovation. […]

First Female Marine Students Arrive at SOI-West

MARCH 8, 2018, Camp Pendleton, CA – This marks the first male-female integrated Marine Combat Training Company on the West Coast. “It is important, one team one fight, at the end of the day it’s to show the Marine Corps can produce [Marines] regardless of gender and complete any mission.” Said Sgt. Ambar Gonzalez, a […]

The Forever GI Bill

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also known as the “Forever GI Bill,” was signed into law on August 17, 2017, and brings significant changes to Veterans’ education benefits over the next few years. Most enhance or expand education benefits for Veterans, servicemembers, families and survivors. Here’s a list of the changes and […]

The Soldier Doctor That Diagnoses Helicopters

MARCH 29, 2018, Taji Military Complex, Iraq – A torque wrench squeals as it secures the bolts of a forward support tube onto a UH-60 Black Hawk engine in a maintenance shop March 23. U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 126 Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion) aircraft power plant repairer Spc Kathleen Scanlon, works with her […]

The Three Biggest Mistakes Service Members are Making With Their Money

APRIL 4, 2018, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA – Since April is Financial Literacy Month, Joe Chesloski, a personal financial counselor with more than 20 years of business and finance experience, offered his perspective on the biggest mistakes service members make with their money — and how those mistakes can be avoided. BE CAUTIOUS WITH […]

Recent Posts

  • DoD Must Be More Agile in Technology Development
  • ‘Realm of the Possible’ Revealed by Multi-Mission Unmanned Surface Vehicle
  • Soldiers, Marines Bring Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Operational Testing to Completion
  • DoD, DHS Outline National Guard Role in Securing Border
  • The Forever GI Bill
MAINMENU


SITESEARCH
Can't find something? Try using our site search to dig through our entire site.



Still having trouble? Try the Advanced Search to refine your searches.
NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE
Sign Up To Receive Information, Updates and Special Officers from MilitarySpot.com.



Don't miss an issue! Jump in the Newsletter Archives to catch up on previous issues.
FOLLOWMILITARY SPOT

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & StumbleUpon and more. Keep up with MilitarySpot.com news & updates. We also have an RSS Feed.

Advertise | About | Write for Us | Contact | Feedback | Recruiter Network | Unsubscribe | DMCA | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
 
Copyright 2004-2018 Sun Key Publishing. All Rights Reserved.

This is a private website that is not affiliated with the U.S. government, U.S. Armed Forces, or Department of Veterans Affairs. U.S. government agencies have not reviewed this information. This site is not connected with any government agency. If you would like to find more information about benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, please visit the official U.S. government web site for veterans benefits at http://www.va.gov.