It isn't at all the same situation, but do you remember the popular song by Tony Orlando and Dawn several years ago, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree?"  The guy was coming home from prison and was afraid that no one would care.  He asked those he knew to tie a yellow ribbon around a tree if they were happy that he was coming.  When he got home, there were yellow ribbons a round every tree in town.

My son hasn't been incarcerated, but he has been in Iraq for the last year.  Today he returned home to Jacksonville, NC.  He is stationed at Camp LeJeune and lives in the town where the huge Marine base is located.  I feel like tying yellow ribbons everywhere!  At last, he's HOME!

I know that Wesley (his name) was very fortunate to have churches and people all over this great land praying for him.  He had the Lord's hand on him the whole way.  I, his father, am humbled and grateful.

This last year I have learned a lot about the US military.  I have never served and probably never will, but as the father of a US Marine on deployment in a war zone, I learned something.  I learned the meaning of taking things one day at a time.  We prayed for Wes every day, and I do mean every day.  That's something you can't get ahead on.  You can't pray for tomorrow, for it hasn't happened yet.  You have to pray every day while it is today.  And on the rare occasion when I knew that he was out on a special mission, I prayed with more intensity. 

Our church has been faithful since the beginning of Desert Shield back in 1990 to pray for all those who wear the uniform of the United States military.  We have welcomed back many young men and women.  We will continue to do so.

We will also continue to pray for the upper echelon military leadership and  political leadership that they may find ways to bring this conflict to a conclusion.  I see the church's job as that of praying without ceasing with those who are serving and participating.

I pause to think of the more than 3800 families whose loved ones did not come back from Iraq.  I could easily have been one of those.  I am grateful that I am not.  I am rejoicing this day and would invite anyone out there who reads this to rejoice with me and my family, even though you may not know us.  Rejoice with us this day in the safe return of our Marine Captain son, Wesley Garrett Thomas.