From My Backyard to the Battlefield
Published November 10, 2011His name was Eddie.
Though his family attended a church across town, his teenage sister was part of the youth group my husband pastored. When our first baby was born, we asked her to babysit.
It started a friendship between our families that lasts to this day.
Their Eddie and our Kenna were just months apart. As they grew, they became childhood friends.
Both were homeschooled and once both moms decided, since their public school friends had no classes that frosty, foot-of-fallen-snow January day, we’d give them a snow day too.
Here they are in my backyard before retreating inside to warmth to sip some hot cocoa.
Eddie and Kenz January 1997
Ed and Kenna today
Eddie was always a delightful, polite and fine son.
Today, now a young man, Ed (forever Eddie in my mind) wears a scar of war.
He also wears an artificial foot. The one given at birth is no more.
Hear his sister Shari’s words after returning from a visit to his rehab hospital:
I reluctantly returned last night from my visit with my brother. I really do not have adequate words to describe the trip: amazing, overwhelming, heartbreaking, inspirational.
Even though I thought I was prepared, I have to be honest and say I held in the tears and really had to take a few minutes to adjust. I tried to hide that from him but I’m sure he knew.
It’s not just seeing my brother that is a mixed emotion it’s being at that facility that is completely life changing. I believe every American should have to take a trip there. I don’t think anyone realizes the obstacles these boys have to overcome when they are injured. Nor do people realize the volume of injuries that are taking place.
My brother is now in an apartment building with two wings. One wing is five stories the other eight, totally filled with amputees!!! These are kids most of which are under the age of 25 and most losing at least two limbs (usually both legs).
A large majority are without 3 limbs (both legs and an arm). You can tell they try very hard to salvage at least an arm for these young men. Many have one arm, however mangled and without all their fingers, their attempt at giving them something.
You walk through the halls of this apartment building knowing there is a different story and heartbreak behind each soldier, but also courage and hope to find their place now.
As if walking through the hospital and apartment building isn’t enough to give a whole new meaning to our American Flag and everything it stands for I got to take two trips to physical therapy with Ed.
I couldn’t help the tears that came not only for my brother but the others whose injures are so extreme. To see them in tears of their own pushing and working so hard to overcome their injuries and simply try to live a “normal” life was again was something I cannot put into words.
The things you see them do (those without limbs literally rolling from one place to another) with a smile or pain dripping off their face made my life look like roses.
This may sound weird but I felt very blessed to experience that and be taught the appreciation for …well.. basically everything. You don’t realize how much you have until you experience what I did at Walter Reed.
A few weeks ago our Kenna hopped in her car after work late on a Saturday and traveled from her home in North Carolina to the nation’s capital to visit her childhood and still close friend.
Like old times, they made pizza. Laughed. Fell asleep watching movies. She even gave him a haircut (legally now that she’s a real cosmetologist!)
She even proudly witnessed his very first post-war step.
Mom Sharon got to be with them all weekend.
I got to stay home and pray as the update tweets rolled in; pray for the little boy from my backyard who grew into a man, gladly giving limb, and nearly life, so others could live free.
A kiss from mom always makes it better.
Sweet sisters, I have no words of help here today.
No clever quips.
No organizing tips.
No fun giveaway to offer you by a comment left.
There is nothing in this post here for you today.
Instead I am asking you to take an unselfish moment of time to leave a comment for soldier Ed.
Even a simple thanks to this man whose life was altered forever because he tried to fight for a better life for foreign strangers whom he did not even know.
Veterans Day is sorely and sadly overlooked.
Will you make in not be so here?
I thank you.
And I know Ed and his sweet, sacrificial family do too.
Gratefully,
220 Responses to From My Backyard to the Battlefield
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My Family
God bless you, Ed! My husband is an Iraq war veteran and before his deployment, I didn’t have any personal experience with the military. During his deployment, my life changed forever as I firsthand witnessed the sacrifice, the pride and love of America and amazing individuals serve in our Armed Forces. I stand up for you and applaud. Thank you so much for your sacrifice. Thank you for your work and I pray God continues to flood your life with peace and blessing. I believe in you even though I don’t know you because I DO know what kind of man it takes to go to war. I’m married to one:) Continue to get strong and work hard; God has an amazing plan for your life still unfolding. Thank you, soldier!!
Amazing story. My heart breaks for the little boy that was your Eddie, but swells with pride that we still have young men like him willing to fight for our country. Thank you Ed for giving so much for all of us! Words are not enough to express the gratitude I feel. God bless you!
WOW! Thank you to Ed for the sacrifices he made. Thank you for the reminder of remembering and thanking those we so often take for granted or quickly overlook in the busyness of life. Thank you!
Thank you so much Ed for your service and your sacrifice. Our country is blessed to have a man like you willing to serve it and fight for our freedom. Praying for your recovery. God Bless.
Words cannot adequately express the gratitude in my heart for those men and women who willingly give of themselves. I hope there will be updates so we can read what God is doing in your life through your recovery. God bless you and thank you, Ed!
Thank you for your honorable service and your incredible sacrifice, may God bless you as your journey leads you to His throne when you will have the ultimate reward, Hope you are truly honored on Veterans day and every day, with my heartfelt appreciation, Karen
Thank you Ed and all your fellow soldiers for the sacrifice you made and continue to make to keep us all free! I do not personally know anyone in the military, but whenever I read about those who are I feel thankful that I live in the United States and that there are so many people like you who are willing to fight to keep us free. May God bless you!
There’s no way to describe all we owe you … but thank you.
Thank you Ed for your service and sacrifice.
Oh, how this story touched me. Saying thank you isn’t nearly enough, but I am so grateful for the sacrifice you have made for your country. May God richly bless you. At this time to remember our veterans, I will lift up the name of a very special soldier, Ed, to the throne of God. Thank you for your service.
Ed~you’re SO awesome! And such a HERO!! Thank you for fighting for us! Love to you from Nebraska!
Ed–Our words of thanks seem so small for the sacrifice you have given…may God bless you all of your days. Thank you from South Dakota!
Ps. Karen–I hope it is okay, but I was so touched by your post, that I posted a link on my facebook page for others to come read and to be reminded.
Oh Kim! Thank you. I wish everyone would do that. I want to send TONS of well wishes his way fro Veteran’s Day. Bless you.
Thank you for serving our country, and for what you sacrificed for our freedom. May you heal quickly, and recover in many ways. God Bless You Ed!
Thank you Ed for all you have done and all you will go through for our country. I will be praying for you!
Even though I don’t know you personally Ed, I want you to know I appreciate and admire your strength. Thank you for serving our country. You are a blessing!
God’s sweetest blessings to you
Stephanie
Words simply cannot express my gratitude for you, Ed, and for all the other men and women in the military. For the sacrifices you have made all I can say is “thank you!” May God pour out his blessings upon you.
Words fail me, how do you say thank you to men and women who have gone through so much, just so I and others can live life untouched by war in our own country. God surely has a special blessing on these men and women who serve our great country.
Thank you, Ed for your service to our country…being a HERO…just being you! May the Lord bless you more abundantly than all of your hopes and dreams! Praying for you!!
Ed, my family and I thank you so very, very much for standing in the gap for our country. I envision you to be a cream-of-the-crop kind of guy. God strengthen you mightily to live for His glory! I will be praying that God would continue to heal your wounds, remove the pain, and supply your every need to overflowing measures!
Ed,
Thank you for your service to our country and the amazing sacrifice you made for our freedom.
God bless you.
Ed, thank you for your sacrifice. I appreciate all that you have done and lost and all the hard work you are yet to do in your therapy. I want to be just like you when I grow up
God bless you Ed! We are so appreciative that brave men and women like you defend our freedom every day. You all are heroes.
Ed,
You are inspiring! Thank you for all you have done and given so that my family can experience freedom. Your sacrifice is not overlooked. May God bless you, heal you, and strengthen you.
Thank you is not enough, but my grateful family and I offer it to you and your family for your sacrifice and service to our country. I’m a lucky one. I GET to work with and pray for heroes like you almost everyday with the VA hospital here. Thank you is not enough. I’ve learned so much from your “much older brothers” and I pray you’ll share your story with those around you once you’re home. We need to hear them. I praise God for sharing one of his faithful servants with us. Again, many thanks, cheers, applause and pride goes out to you and your fellow soldiers from us in Northen KY! Praying your recovery is speedy and you’re home soon!
Thank you for all you have done to fight for our freedom! I pray that God blesses you beyond measure.
Thank you Ed, for your service to our nation. I will be asking God to bless your future in wonderful, surprising, amazing ways.<3
Thank you Ed, and every other soldier. I am truly humbled that you would risk your life for me and my family so that we could be free. So that we could be safe in the country we call home, you left and went to another. For just going away there are no words to thank you enough! There are not enough prayers, there is nothing I can say or do that will ever come close to expressing my sincere gratitude. It is in honor to write these words to a veteran. Please share them with your fellow soldiers. All should know just how thankful we are! God’s Richest Blessings!
Hi Ed! Thank you for your service to our country and for allowing us to freely live in this wonderful country every day! I remember when you and Tim were born while your sister Lisa and I were in middle school/high school. Thank you for your sacrifice and your love of our country. Please know that many people appreciate your bravery and commitment to allow all of us to have freedom.
Blessings to you Eddie…I love your smile!
Thank you, Ed and all of our other soldiers. It was an honor to read about you, thanks for your service and may God richly bless you and your family and friends.
Dear Ed, Please know that your sacrifice has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated….God bless you and your family… Thank you just does not cover it…….but Thank you!
Tears filled my eyes as I read this. You will be in my prayers. This story has really touched me. Veterans Day is a special day of remembrance and a family from my hometown will be remembering their son who was killed in the airport attack in Afghanistan last spring. Thank you for giving of your time to protect us, Ed. And Kenna, thank you for still reaching out to your childhood now adult friend. What a blessing you can be in each other’s lives. Love and prayers from Central Illinois.
Ed, I salute and honor you on this Veterans Day. Thank you for serving our country and giving of yourself so unselfishly. I pray you would have a blessed recovery and be a light in this world that needs you and your witness to shine.
Ed. Words are so inadequate to express my gratefulness for your sacrifice. Thank you for giving so much to defend the freedom that I so often take for granted. You are a blessing. I love your smile too. And I pray that God will hold you very near during your continued recovery. Hugs from another Mom
Thank you Eddie for your service to our country and for your sacrifice. God bless you!! You are in my prayers.
Thank you Ed for your service. May you be richly blessed. Your story is very touching.
Karen,
Thank you so much for sharing Eddie’s story (yes he is still Eddie to me as well). I could not be more proud of my little brother and I want everyone one to know how amazing he truly is. Even though He is five years younger then me, Ed has picked me up time after time when I am down. His amazing smile and strong ability to see the positive side of everything has always been a place I could draw strength from. I wish I could say things have flipped now,.that I am the one being positive and encouraging him. But still after all he has been through, he is still the same Eddie..still seeing the positive side of everything and making me cry from laughing so hard just about every time I talk to him. He has given so much and still he just keeps giving. I was able to spend a couple days down at Walter Reed with him a couple weeks ago and I left on such a high. God blessed me beyond what I deserve when he gave me Ed (and Tim) as a brother. Thank you so much for honoring him on Veterans day. I’ve been trying so hard to come up with a way to do so myself but I think you nailed it.. And yes he really is the “cream of the crop”.
Love you Jackie!!! Love your whole family.
Thank you for all you have given in your service. for our country. You are an inspiration to us all!
Praise God for the strength and hope He has given you to endure this challenging season. Thank you for your dedication to serving in such a sacrificial and life-altering way. I will be praying for continual healing-physical, emotional, and spiritual-for you. God bless you brother.
Thank You Ed, I am so Thankful that you loved your country so much to go and Protect us all. I am proud of our Military. I wish I could do more for you all. You are a very Brave person who was willing to give all for your country. Jesus gave all for the world. I know that he is very proud of you. I am so grateful for you. Hang in there and Keep God in your heart.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. Those words aren’t enough for you have sacrificed much. You have my utmost respect and undying gratitude. I pray God continually blesses you. My family and I salute you and we thank you!
These words are not enough, but THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart…from the depths of my soul. THANK YOU. Ed, you and every American veteran, are the binding that holds this nation together. Your love and sacrifice mean so much; I wish I could meet you and thank you in person. Please know that I will pray for you and your family. You are a blessing and I’m sending much love, hugs, and prayers!
Ed, Thank You!!! Words cannot begin to describe how thankful I am for your sacrifice and those you serve with. Praying for you and your family and for God’s blessings.
WOW!!! Thank you so much, Karen, for bringing us this story. So many times we get busy in our everyday mundane existence that we fail to remember that there is a whole other world going on. Thank you, Ed, for your sacrifice, and to all of the other brave young men and women who have so selfishly sacrificed so that I can be free to type this tonight…
Thank you Ed for your service to our Country, and for your personal sacrfice. I thank God every day that your parents didn’t get that knock on the door that we did, almost five years ago now. We owe you so much more than words can say. If it weren’t for guys and gals like you, and Andrew, our way of life would be much different. So once again, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!
Alan Nelson
Proud Father of PFC Andrew Nelson
KIA 12/25/06 Baghdad Iraq
Thank you Al for your family’s sacrifice. Andrew was a fine young man and sure brought lots of joy to me during his too-short life. Todd & I have so many fun memories of him being our “practice child” before we had kids when you and Tami needed a sitter.
For those of you reading this, our daughter talked about PFC Nelson in this prior post. It will take you also to his memorial site. Andrew will have been gone 5 years this Christmas Day, killed in action in Iraq..
http://karenehman.com/home/2009/12/22/hunter-green-and-khaki-are-my-new-favorite-christmas-colors/
You readers can also just click on Alan’s name above to go to Andrew’s memorial site.
Alan, may the Lord continue to bless you & your family. Your family gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. On this heart that does not bear lightly!. Please know that at least one here is saying a prayer for you & your family. May our Lord hold your hearts a little bit closer as you remember your son this Veteran’s Day.
Blessings to you,
Lisa
Thank you Ed for your service and sacrifice. May God richly Bless you.
Sending you a virtual hug Ed. Thank you so much for serving our country.! I pray your re-hab is going well and God is filling you with hope and peace. I can only imagine how proud your family & friends are of you! 1 Samuel 16:7. Blessings, Jane Carver
Thank You Ed for your service and your sacrifice, and to all injured heroes who have sacrificed for our freedom. I respect and honor you all. God Bless You xoxoxoxox
Ed,
Our neighbor is also a wounded warrior who lost his leg below the knee. He spent a lot of time at Walter Reed doing rehab so he could come home for his wife and daughter. What y’all do is taken for granted by all of us, and very little can honestly say they would be able to make the sacrifices our soldiers do. May every day be another milestone and know you are wrapped in prayers and love.
Thank you Eddie for the precious child you were to the honorable, giving man that you have become. Even with all that you have been through, you still have an electric smile on your face. This smile comes from the joy you have within. May your road to recovery come with less and less bumps along the way. Thanks again and God bless you and your family.
Hi Ed ~
Here in Canada, we have Remembrance Day today. As I lay in my bed this morning, long before the alarm sounded, I thought about this day.
It was many many years ago that my grandfather fought in WW1. I thought about what it must have been like for him. Five years of his life and many losses of friends. He saw way too much pain and death. But, he lived to enjoy a future with a wife, and his family. He passed away at 89 years of age. He often felt saddened that he had been chosen to live while so many of his friends had lost their lives.
Then my mind came to this present day; this time in my life. And I thought about those who have been fighting in wars.
By this time, my heart was well broken.
As I continued to remember, I thought about the pain, the injuries, the lives lost, the loved ones grieving…..and it made me want to cry out, “Why, Lord? Why all this; what is it all for? What does it accomplish?”
And then I remembered, we live in a fallen and sinful world.
Ed, I am so sorry for what has happened to you. I sit here with tears in my eyes. Our world can be so cruel. I long for the day when there will no longer be tears, suffering and death.
I have to be honest with you; I do not believe in war. I don’t believe Jesus does either.
But I do believe that you sacrificed in order to fight for a cause you believe in and I respect that. You have experienced things that no young man should experience and I pray that the good Lord will bless you and keep you all the days of your life.
I am glad you have so many around you who love you. I pray health, happiness, and long life for you. I pray for peace in your heart.
May the Good Lord richly bless you, Ed.
From my heart to yours. Judi.
Ed, may the Lord pour blessings on your life! Thank you for your sacrafice for our country. You shine bright for Jesus. God has HUGE plans for you!! Thank you, thank you!
Thank you Ed, and to all other soldiers who have served, scarificed, suffered, and smiled on our great country – thank you and may GOD richly bless each one & their families, both in heaven and on earth.
Thank you, Ed, for your service. I cannot put into words the heartfelt gratitude I feel for you and all the other men and women who make the sacrifice to serve our country. The freedoms I enjoy today came as result of your sacrifice and from the sacrifices of those who went before you. I know that God has some awesome plan for your life. As our family has watched you grow into a wonderful young man, we have truly been blessed. I speak for all of my family when I say thank you from the bottoms of our hearts. May God continue to bless you and show you all he has in store for you.
Mary
Thank you so much, Ed, for your service. I’m praying for you this morning that you will know what an incredible man you are and that God’s blessings will rain down on you.
May God bless you Ed and return to you above and beyond what you have given to your country. Without you there would be no freedom. Thank you from the depths of my heart.
With one brother deployed and another leaving in January, your story, your sacrifice, hits me deeply. There is no way to thank you for what you have done to serve our country. May the Lord bless you richly!
Thank You Ed!! My family goes to sleep everynight safe Thanks to people like you who give so much to us. I know we do not Thank you enought. We are every proud of all our soilders. Thanks!!
The Mullins Family
Mark, Jenny, Mark and Luke
This country is so fortunate to have moral young men with faith in God to serve in the military. None of us who have not been in the midst of war as you and so many have been and are, can truly understand. There are many who pray for all of you and will continue to do so. I am not a soldier, not a veteran, just a grandmother with young men of faith who are still serving. You and they as well as the others who I don’t even know, are in my prayers. Keep the faith, keep fighting your new fight and may God continue to bless you and give you strength.
Thank you for sharing Ed’s story. Very touching. A very big THANK YOU ED for the serving and sacrificing you made for our country and for each of us to have the freedom we enjoy. Praying we never take that freedom for granted. Prayers for you and your family as you progress thru your recovery. God Bless You
A truly inspirational story. Thank you Ed for your sacrifice and your service. Happy Veterans day to you and all soldiers.
Thank You does not come even close to what I feel in my heart but I want you to know how grateful I am for you and your service to our country and all those other countless young men and women who have suffered and bled and died for us. Your story touched my heart because I usually just hear of the ones that give their life and not the ones whose lives are forever changed because of their service to us. I’m sorry I don’t have the words to express what is really in my heart but please know that I’m praying for you and all the others and I know that God can and will work wonders and miracles in each of your lives.
Thank you for serving, Ed. I value you, your service, your honor and your sacrifice. May God bless you richly in the days and years ahead. ~Rachel
Few times in life am I wordless…….but this is one. Ed, thank you, thank you with tears streaming down my checks, thank you. My brother in law just arrived home from Iraq yesterday and is speaking at the high school where I work today, about his time away from his family, and his time caring for young galliant men like you….my son in law just left two weeks ago from Quantico, starting his stint as a marine, and my nephew is deployed,cruising in a coast guard ship. My prayers are with you, that God blesses you for your sacrifice, and once again Thank you!!!!!
Dear Ed
There are not enough words that express to you and your family the thanks that should be yours. I wish you good health, happiness, peace and love as you move toward recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
God Bless You,
Robin
Soldier Ed, you are truly an inspiration and have sacrificed so much to protect our freedom as Americans. To those who grew up with you, you will always be Eddie, to the military and the general public, you are known as Soldier Ed…..but I will always think of you as Hero Ed. I cannot Thank You enough and there are no words to express my gratitude for you, your service to this country, and for the inspiration that you will always be to anyone who hears your story. I feel both honored and blessed to have been introduced to you and your story on this special day–Happy Veteran’s Day and God Bless You always!
Thanks, Ed. For your service. God bless you.
Tears fill my eyes and pour down my cheeks to read this testimony and witness the beauty of your picture, Ed. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. My family thanks you. There may be days where your sacrifice might seem un-noticed but please know there are many who do see and who are praying.
God is not through with you, young man. May your life be a witness to many that even through such trials as you’ve had and will have, your journey continues.
Thank you!
Eddie, thank you is not enough for the sacrifice you made for our freedom. But thank you for being such an amazing young man and for making a difference in lives all over our country. You are appreciated and loved by people you dont even know. I pray God continues to give you courage and strength and the passion to persevere because of the great purpose He has for your life. And I pray that He showers you with blessings beyond belief.
Vietnam — another different war. I lost friends and had friends and family come back forever changed. Thanks to you, Ed, for continuing a long heritage of service. My prayers are with you, your family, and all other veterans. God bless.
Eddie – (You will unfortunately always be that to me) – Thank you so much for your service to our country so we all here can be safer. It has been such a pleasure watching you grow from a young boy into the godly man you are today. You ever-present smile lights up a room whenever you enter. I am confident God has great things in store for you and am looking forward to worshipping Him together with you after you are through with your military service. You are truly an amazing young, god-honoring man and I am blessed to know you and your family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Ed, Thank you for all you and your fellow soldiers have sacrificed for all Americans to be free. I grew up in a military family and know the many sacrifices made by the families and those serving. May God bless you and your family.
Thank you Ed for your service. My husband is a veteran, and while I cannot fully appreciate your sacrific, he knows what it is like to be in war and to serve our country. I am so grateful to both of you. God bless you in your recovery.
Eddie, Thank you for your service and sacrifice for our country! God Bless you!
thank you eddie for my freedom! my family lives in peace in our great country because of you sacrifice.
Thank you for your service Ed. I am proud to know you now even if it is from a post. I wish you a speedy recovery even though I know at times it will be hard and the scars of war truly never leave you. I pray that you will find peace. Love to you my brother in arms.
Dear Ed,
We can’t begin to thank you enough for putting your life on the line for our country and the millions of people who are blessed to call it home. You have sacrificed tremendously for us and we will be forever grateful.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you today, as we celebrate Veterans Day and honor all of those who have served our country well. May God’s peace, joy, and love rest abundantly upon you as His healing continues to strengthen and restore you completely.
Continued prayers,
Keith, Leah, Brody, & Carson DiPascal
My little boy, 5, saw your picture and got scared. He didn’t understand that you are a soldier and that sometimes soldiers get hurt. Put a new perspective on the little guy’s world view. Mommy, I hope God grows a new foot for him. What faith he has and I pray that his hope will flood you as you come into your new “normal”. May God continue to use you to touch others. My little boy is “showing” your story to his classmates today in Kindergarten because he wants them to know that our soldiers need our love, encouragement, and prayers. I wish I could be there to give you a hug and say thank you in person. Stay strong and when you can’t fall into Jesus’ arms and let him love on you and give you his strength.
May The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
God Bless you Ed! You and all other soldiers are amazing and hold a very special place in my heart. Prayers will be started for you today and will continue! Thank you for defending our country and allowing us to live in freedom each and every day!
I don’t know if this will work, but I hope it does. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=3031233861637&source=jlfb&cont=2&ref=nf
Kathryn–
Thanks for taking the time to do this.
Ed—click on the link to see what she sent you.
Ed—
I am getting private messages from teachers who are showing your picture to their classes. Lots of kids are learning about you and your bravery on Veterans Day & want to show their thanks by sending cards.
Via email: Thank you for sharing this story of friendship and sacrifice. And
thank you to Ed! Wow…it is an honor to “meet” you and know of your
story.
God Bless You!
via email: Please send my thanks to this brave young soldier for his unselfish gift of fighting for the freedom of so many Americans. Even more so since he now has to live his life differently than when he left to serve this Country of ours. My father-in-law was in the Korean War and have heard stories from family members as to what he had to endure as well as losing many of his comrades. I am thankful that Ed is still being blessed, that he has the support of family and friends to help him continue each day — renewed in spirit. God gives us strength to endure many hardships. My ‘struggles’ do not come close in comparing to the strength God has given this young man.
Proverbs 29:18
Deb
Ed thank you so much for your sacrifice for my freedom. Thank you that you gave of yourself for our protection. I pray that as you continue to heal and strengthen that our Heavenly Father will draw you closer to Himself. I thank God for men like you who are willing to sacrifice for others. Please know that on this heart your sacrifice has not been in vain.
Ed, I would ask that you share these messages with your fellow soldiers to let them know as well that there are many who truly appreciate all that they have given. While the words “Thank you” seem so insignificant it is all I have to offer. May the Lord bless you all and keep your hearts and minds focused on Him.
Blessings to you and all your fellow warriors!
Lisa
Dear Ed,
I am so grateful to you and your fellow service men and women. Thank you, thank you for your heart to help others, your courage to face the unknown, and your strength to endure. I am praying that the Lord fills you and your entire building with such a great HOPE and JOY that it becomes infectious in the lives of all who come in contact with you.
Thank you, again, for your service and sacrifice – putting others ahead of yourself. May you now receive abundantly from others as you continue to walk this life COURAGEOUSLY. Joshua 1:6
Gratefully,
Paul, Kim, Mason and Austin
DeWitt, MI
Thank you Ed, for all of your sacrifices! You are an inspiration to read your story and to see a smile on your face. God Bless YOU!
Amy
Dear Ed, to say “thank you” doesn’t seem enough. But I AM so thankful for your service and so appreciative of your sacrificial spirit. What you do matters greatly. YOU matter. God bless you.
Thank you so much Ed for all you have given. God has truely blessed your life for your humbleness to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You are continually in our thoughts and prayers, and a huge praise from our family to yours for your positive outlook and your truely blessed opportunity of the great witness you have been to many through this. Thank you ED!
Thank you so much for all you do for our great nation. Thank you for standing in harms way to keep us safe. As a military wife, I will never forget the sacrifices you all make. Stay strong and keep your spirit up. You will conquer anything. You are an amazing person. I pray that you will gain strength and will be up going and pain free. You are a blessing to us all.
God bless you and your family.
Ed, you are truly a hero and such a blessing to America. I am grateful for your willingness to serve at the cost of your physical well being. America is a better place thanks to you. Praying for your recovery and blessings in your life! Thank YOU!!
No greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his brother. You have given your life as you knew it.. Thank you. Please express my thanks and gratitude for the other soldiers at Walter Reed. You are all heroes. May God bless you.
Ed,
Thank you for being the fine outstanding man that you obviously are! I appreciate your service and sacrifice so I can enjoy the freedom to post this comment. I am praying for your recovery and that the Lord continually bless you! Also, thank you to your family for the sacrifices they have also made while you are in service to our country. May God bless all of you!
Ed,
Thank you doesn’t seem like enough for your sacrifice and those of ALL the veterans. As a child that comes from a family full of military service members, I truly appreciate your sacrifice for our freedom. May God keep your spirit strong as you go through your rehabilitation. You and all those serving are always in my prayers. Soldiers are the true heroes of this country. God bless you & your family & all those with you at Walter Reed. Please send my heartfelt gratitude to them as well. I have shared your story on my Facebook page and hope that many of my friends & family will also write to you and share your story as well.
Thank you,
Devin
Ed, you are an inspiration. Not only do I thank you- I salute you. You left the comfortableness of home and went somewhere to protect, serve, and honor your country. I will admit, I don’t have the type of courage. You do and I will always forever be thankful to you. God bless you Ed and he has many awesome things in this life in store for you.
Via email: Ed, Thank you seems so inadequate for all that you and all soldiers do to protect us and this country. But, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart…….thank you! And may God Bless you and continue to help you and give you His grace and peace in the coming days.
via email:
Hi Ed, you are COURAGEOUS!!!!! I want you to know that I do nottake my freedom lightly!! If it was not for soldiers like you I couldn’t even go outside my home for fear something bad would happen!!!
Jesus never leaves or forsakes us!!! Jesus has us covered!!! Be sure to read psalm 91 over & over!! Go now & tell your story & what your almighty Jesus did for you!! The joy of the Lord is your strength!!!
Just4Him, Donna Amarillo, Texas
Thank you Ed for your sacrifice and willing spirit to protect our freedom. We can’t thank our soldiers and veterans enough.
Just a note to say “THANK YOU”!!!
We are proud to be able to tell you and others that message today. Know that you are all in HIS hands today. We thank you for your sacrifice for freedom. May God richly bless you and yours in the coming days.
Psalms 147:3-5
Thank you Ed! Much love, thankfulness and gratitude to you and to all who serve, and to your family. You will be in my prayers!
Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough. The disrespect and lack of appreciation seen on the news is not the heart of anyone I know. I am an American proud of you and think you are a hero. My family is full of veterans, one who gave his life for our country. I think the legacy you will leave makes a difference!! God bless you.
Ed, Thank you for your faithful service. May we, your country, serve you as well as you have served us. Hold us accountable and show us how to appreciate the freedom your sacrifice has upheld. May you feel God’s presence in each step as you become stronger, steady and supported.