I began this evening with the video “ANGEL FLIGHT” which I listen to and view often. I was already overflowing with memories that needed time and contemplation… Memories involving Peace Keepers and peace keeping. For me, every day is Memorial Day as I remember them and pray in thanksgiving for them, their sacrifices for all the rest of us and pray for the needs of their families and loved ones still here.
I remember my uncles coming home from WW2. I remember my dad coming home after WW2 in 1946… He was never again the same man who was drafted into WW2 and it’s aftermath. I remember my youngest uncle coming home many times because he was a career soldier. I remember friends and acquaintances from my teen years going into the Military just for something useful to do and their return from the action in Korea… Especially one of them that went in a very large person and came home looking like a shadow of his former self, he had lost so much weight… The Marine Corps had really made a new physical man of him!
I remember the pain and unbelievable atrocities that were perpetrated on our troops by numerous enemies during all of our years of the United States of America fighting wars and police actions for the safety and welfare of the world and our country… Most of which I learned from reading the history of our nation from published diaries, books, articles and viewing movies. The impact of the pain inflicted upon just one Peace Keeper is incomprehensible… Then when if is multiplied by the millions who suffered personally and add to that the suffering of their loved ones… Well, the word “cost” is just not sufficient to convey the enormity of any of it to anyone that did not suffer it themselves.
Just think, for only a moment, of the worst pain you have ever known… Then multiply it by the largest number you can comprehend… You will have only scratched the surface of the greatness contributed to us by these most special people who have suffered these horrible and costly experiences for all of us!!!
I especially remember one war veteran from ancient times who went to fight a group of kings and their armies because they captured and carried away his nephew and everything and everyone that belonged to him including the family. He and his group defeated the enemy and freed the nephew and all of his people. On the way home from the battle he was met by a man who was a Priest and King of enormous import who gave the conquering group and freed people bread and wine to help restore them. Here I am speaking of Abram, who was renamed Abraham, and his being met by Melchizedek, Priest of the Most High God and King of Salem (meaning Peace), who gave them the food, drink and the blessing of the Most High God. Abraham and the affect of his life and his progeny’s lives, both physical and spiritual, and all of the Veterans and Peace Keepers of my country and my lifetime mean so very much to me… They have all contributed to the great quality of my life and my efforts in peace keeping. I am constantly learning more and more of how they all contributed to me and my life… This ever increasing knowledge continues to astonish me, sometimes even to putting me into total silence and awe.
Our Peace Keepers and our Veterans have done so much, and continue to do so much, that the value of their lives and their contributions are inestimable!!! All of these Peace Keepers, Veterans and all of the people in their support systems are the foundation blocks and the glue that supports and holds our world together! Life as we know it could not exist without them!!! Evil is abroad in our world… By the Grace of our Creator, Peace Keepers were created to keep evil in check and bless those that live in peace. I am am continually awed by how well they do it!!! I am deeply proud to have been one among them for so long!!!
Please remember that the term Peace Keeper as I use it covers all law enforcement, the military and all of the people in all of their support systems… Including past, deceased, current and retired personnel!!!
I always have loved the members of the military since early childhood. Then, as I grew, I became aware of the “State Men”, the Virginia State Police Troopers that were sparsely stationed all over the State… Whenever I saw one of them I took note of the attitude of all people around me toward them… It was an attitude of fear and awe. They were so impressive to my young child’s mind… They were so neat, so sharp, so clean, so shiny and so business like that I would get as close as I dared but be most respectful. One of them investigated a car wreck immediately in front of my home where I grew up as a child. My parents invited him in to sit on our porch out of the rain to do his notes… I crept as close as possible and watched his every move… He was as big as a mountain to me then… The affect was so deep that I set out to become one of them some day. I accomplished that in July of 1962 and I still love them deeply, right along with all other Peace Keepers, Veterans and the people in all of their support systems.
Our troops are still bleeding and dying in Afghanistan and other places in the world… Our Homeland Peace Keepers will be out in force during this holiday on the streets, highways and in all jurisdictions all over the Nation… Thousands of support system personnel will also sacrifice family time to be in place to help make it all work… And, if I were still working, this would be my first busy weekend of the summer season. My principal job was to be there to assist them and sometimes protect them… Plus help citizens who need it… And to assist support system personnel with special needs. I would be one among them who would see too much, have to do too much and then be demolished and wrung out come Monday when so many others would have special celebrations and I would not want to even move… I have done this so many times… They are all worth anything I have done or can do and more… I am so sorry that I cannot still be there!
That’s all gone now and I miss them and I miss being with them… The season has changed for me. My season has gone by… For me it shall always be these uppermost in my life… My Commander-In-Chief, my Eternal Captain, my Precious Keeper and Guide, the Holy Spirit and all of those that I call Peace Keepers… I pray the greatest affects of my God and His Blessings, Peace and Safety upon all of those whom I miss and care for so greatly…. Semper Fi… Always Faithful!!! THANK YOU COMRADES AND COHORTS, THANK YOU!!! My Memorial to all Peace Keepers is my love, my dedication to you and my prayers for you.
“BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!” ALWAYS be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary. Take the very best care of you as you care for and about others. See to the strength and well being of your spirit as well as all the rest of yourself. Your spirit must be strong for you to be successful. All of this is by your own choice… He has made provision for you but it is up to you to learn it, take it and put it to use for the best results possible.
Call or write if I may be of any service… Or if you just want to encourage me… Feedback encourages all who write… It helps to know we are reaching someone who reads the message.
Donna has been getting progressively worse plus she has cracked a rib. We just ran the last of the antibiotic today. Her blood is too thin again and she does not feel well at all. She requires much care and attention.
Donnie is still working off and on. Contracting is like that.
I am surviving well most of the time except my stamina is still low. Hard work this week has left me tired today so I am writing on Friday night so that I might rest and enjoy all the special movies on Saturday.
Thank you for the responses, the care, the concern and especially the prayers.
You keep safe and well!!!
As it has always been… So it still is!!!
“VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST…
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST…
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN.” Sun tzu
Training and practice are everything!
Without them, the best results are not obtained!
ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!
THEY SEE IT ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE MADE THEIR ETERNAL PAYMENTS OF SWEAT, BLOOD, TEARS AND LIFE FOR THAT VICTORY!
WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT…
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)…
BE SUCCESSFUL… BE SAFE…
[My injunction to be safe means doing all you know to do as you do your job... it means doing the best you can with what you have where you are using all your faculties to get the job done well and with good results conquering evil and keeping or restoring peace... it does not mean to avoid duty and honor... it does not mean to cower or allow anything to hinder you in the process of duty according to rules, law and ethics... it means that if the demand takes your earthly life you destroy as much evil as possible in the process. That is my definition of being safe... doing the best you can and leaving the rest to God or whomever else is responsible... being best employed for the sake and protection of all the things and people that we hold dear.]
I represent, write for… and give the credit to:
God the Father (my Commander-in-Chief),
Jesus Christ the Son (the Eternal Captain of my life) and
the Holy Spirit of God (my Eternal Teacher, Keeper and Guide).
In Christ I live… with Him and for you I serve…
And I rejoice that you are there whether you are Christian or not…
For God, Country and the Peace Keeper…
D. R. (Don) Staton, Chaplain to Peace Keepers,
Surviving Peace Keeper,
Virginia State Police Alumni,
RETIRED Police Officer,
RETIRED Police Instructor,
RETIRED Chaplain Administrator,
Chaplain Emeritus,
Community Service Officer (Traffic Safety),
Virginia Beach Police Dept.
Blackwater Alumni
757-486-3881, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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Except for quoted material attributed to a specific source, all material in CHAPLAIN CORNER is my personal opinion gained from 49 years of working with people in peace keeping and is not to be construed to represent the policies and opinions of any department with whom I have served or am serving.
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write to Chaplain D. R. Staton at chpln1@verizon.net or at
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
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