Iredelllivingmay16web

IREDELL LIVING • MAY 2016 1

ComplimentaryM

ay 2016

Living the Good Life

Leaders in Treating Allergy, Asthma, and Immune Deficiency

2 IREDELL LIVING • MAY 2016


Don ForrestDirector of Business [email protected](828) 244-6538

May 2016

Iredell Living the Good Life


LIVNG

I from the publisher

Myron T. GoughPublisher, Iredell Living

Welcome to the May issue. This is a great month to get outside and enjoy the longer days and warmer weather! There are outdoor concerts, various sporting events, and many other reasons to get out of the house in May!

Farmer's markets are in full swing in several locations throughout our area. If you like fresh fruits and vegetables, this is a can't miss stop. Plus, buying locally helps our friends and neighbors who grow this delicious food and also strengthens our area economy.

A special thanks to all moms in our community as we celebrate Mother's Day on May 8th. We appreciate and admire all you do for your family every day, and we love you very much!

The last Monday in May is set aside as Memorial Day, as we remember all those men and women who died in the service of our country. We can never thank them enough for giving the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, and we will never forget them.

Until next month, thank you for reading the May issue of Iredell Living Magazine!

Follow us on Facebook–IredellLivingMagazinehttp://twitter.com/IredellLiving

W W W . I R E D E L L L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Mailing Address - P.O. Box 57 Harmony, NC 28634 (704) 546-5511E-mail - [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSKristie Darling • Kirk Ballard • David Bradley

Meredith Collins • Kathy WheelerDr. Patricia Littwin

COVER PHOTOGRAPHYSheri Allison Photography

COVER STORYAllergy Partners of Statesville

Editorial stock photography, unless otherwise noted, is from ThinkStock.com

Iredell Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Iredell Living assumes no responsibility or liability for the information, services, products, claims, statements, accuracy, or intended or unintended results of any advertiser, editorial contributors, company, professional corporation, business or service provider herein this publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Myron T. GoughPublisher/[email protected](704) 546-5511

Kathy WheelerDirector of Marketing & [email protected](828) 238-3224

Bob ChurchAdvertising [email protected](336) 686-7271

Linda B. WilsonAdvertising [email protected](704) 657-0237

Iredell

Follow us on Facebook–IredellLivingMagazinehttp://twitter.com/IredellLiving

IREDELL LIVING • MAY 2016 5IREDELL LIVING • MAY 2016 6


LIVNG

I content

May 2016

25

8holiday | food | local business

8 •MomsAndTheirChildren

12 • AllergyPartnersOfStatesville LeadersInTreatingAllergy, Asthma,AndImmune Deficiency

18 •TheCharlesMack CitizenCenter TheJewelOfDowntown Mooresville

20 •BuildingAMarriageToLast

25 •What'sCooking?! SeafoodSwapsFor WeeknightMeals

28 • AWordFromThe StatesvilleChamber EnjoyStatesville'sOutdoor MusicScene

30 • AWordFromThe Mooresville–SouthIredell Chamber HonoringThoseWhoHave FoughtForFreedom

19



New to Lake Norman?We'll help you get acquainted! Call the Welcome Committee at 704-660-1155 for a FREE welcome basket filled with valuable coupons, maps and community information.

Motherhood is the hardest job a woman will ever love. Being entrusted with the wellbeing of another life is an incredible responsibility. With multiple children, motherhood becomes a juggling act of tricky situations. Since they are all dif-ferent, we have to tailor our mothering skills to each individual child, all the while trying to offer them the same op-portunities. We encourage their growth as we keep them safe, always weighing their abilities and maturity levels before saying “yes or no” to whatever it is they want to do. Endless hours are spent taking care of our children, preparing for their day and future, as well as our own. When they hurt, we hurt; when they celebrate, so do we. From a baby to adulthood, we try to always be available to them giving our love and support.

That said, there are some inconsistencies in our mothering from one child to the other. I think we get better with each

child. The firstborn is usually a type-A personality, because we try too hard to do everything perfectly. Their firsts are our firsts as parents. With the second child, we have already been there, done that, bought the T-shirt, and realize we went overboard. Many second and third children in birth order think they’re not as important as their oldest sibling. Be grateful you weren’t the first! The first were guinea pigs! Later children will tend to be more relaxed and have more fun, since that perfectionism thing didn’t rub off on them as much. They will also be more resourceful, because they were allowed to do things for themselves, but know this; all are equally important to Mom. To make things more complicated, every child has their own personality and unique needs from their mother. Some are cuddly and accept help read-ily, while others are more independent

and your help feels smothering. Throw in the fact that moms have their own strengths and weaknesses they struggle with, trying to teach their children skills, strengths, and character traits they don’t even possess. It is a wonder any of us turn out right! However, a mom’s goal is the same for all of her children–to grow up happy, successful, kind, and become upstanding citizens. Sometimes the road to that goal is both rewarding and painful, and no matter where you are in that process, moms will always have your back and never give up on you.

May 8th is Mother’s Day. Show your mom that you appreciate all of her effort and love toward you, even if she drives you crazy. And remember that craziness goes both ways. Chances are, for her, motherhood wasn't exactly a cakewalk and now she has to dye her hair because of it.

Moms and Their Children©Monkey Business Images | iStock | ThinkstockBy Kathy Wheeler




12 IREDELL LIVING • MAY 201612 IREDELL LIVING • MAY 2016

By Kristie Darling | Photos by Sheri Allison Photography

LIVNG

I cover story

Leaders in Treating Allergy, Asthma, and Immune Deficiency


Photos:On the cover–Dr. Frank Lichtenberger of Allergy Partners of Statesville

Opposite page–Clockwise, Kendra Lackey; Mike Barker, LPN; Anna Jackson, RN, and practice manager; Dr. Lichtenberger; Jennifer Meyers, LPN; Ericka Tillman, NA; and Jennifer Kennedy. Not pictured Ana Chavez, NA

Pictured–Ericka Tillman, NA, performs vital signs. • Dr. Lichtenberger explains a procedure to Lyndon Turner.

With the cold and flu season behind us, we welcome spring and

its accompanying allergy season with trepidation. For many of us,

taking advantage of warm and sunny weather has a dark side–our

allergies might hit us hard and leave us indoors looking out. Aller-

gies and their sidekicks, asthma and immune deficiencies, come in

many forms and with a host of troubling symptoms. As with any

condition that affects our quality of life and ability to enjoy activi-

ties we love or work to our full capacity, allergies should be properly

diagnosed, treated, and managed so we can get on with things.

At Allergy Partners of Statesville, Dr. Frank Lichtenberger has the

training, experience, and dedication to uncover what’s causing your

symptoms and treat your allergies, asthma, or immune deficiency

issues so you can do just that…get on with life!

IMMUNE DEFICIENCY - WHAT IS IT?

We’ve all heard of, or suffered from, allergies. Less familiar, but

equally as disabling, are immune deficiency disorders that prevent

your body from adequately fighting infections and diseases. This

makes catching viruses and bacterial infections very easy. “Most peo-

ple know someone with immune deficiencies,” Dr. Lichtenberger

told me. “A very common sign that someone needs testing, accurate

diagnosis, and treatment is that they get sick quite a lot, sometimes

requiring hospitalization, maybe several times a year. Recurring

sinus infections, pneumonia, colds, bronchitis, yeast infections, and

diarrhea are common symptoms. Patients may have repeated or

severe infections or ones that won’t clear up. These can occur in any

part of the body…the skin, sinuses, ears and throat, lungs, brain,

spinal cord, or urinary or intestinal tracts. Fortunately, diagnosis

and treatment can work wonders.”

A primary immune deficiency disorder disrupts your body’s ability

to defend itself against bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, fungi, and

parasites, so you can see that getting treatment is critical to living

a full and independent life. Children and adults can be affected.

“Often a patient’s primary care physician, lung specialist or ear, nose

and throat doctor will suspect an immune deficiency and refer their

patient to us,” Dr. Lichtenberger continued. “We’ve seen a number

of cases where the patient had been in and out of the hospital sev-

eral times a year. With the right diagnosis and treatment, we have

kept them out of the hospital, and they have returned to work.”

People who have a family history of primary disorders are at higher

risk. A diet with insufficient protein, lack of regular sleep, aging,

and some medications or chemotherapy can weaken the immune

system. Diagnosis is typically done with several blood tests. Lab

results will indicate the type of deficiency, and Dr. Lichtenberger

can then prescribe the appropriate treatment. “Diagnosis starts with


a complete personal and family history, a physical exam,

and testing,” Dr. Lichtenberger explained. “Treatment is

different for each disease and can include rotating antibiotic

schedules, intravenous fluids or immunoglobulin, or G-

CSF, a glycoprotein that stimulates bone marrow to pro-

duce granulocytes and stem cells and release them into the

bloodstream. Typically, after about two infusions, patients

start to see improvement.” Lifestyle choices like eating a

healthy diet, taking vitamins and zinc supplements, exercis-

ing, practicing regular hand washing, and reducing stress

are also recommended. With proper treatment, patients go

back to work full-time, are not as likely to need hospitaliza-

tion, and can get back to their normal lifestyle.

ALLERGIES CAN BE MANAGED

Ragweed season and the sneezes and stuffy nose that follow

do not have to ruin your life! Adverse reactions the body

has to the environment cause allergies to show up in many

ways. We sneeze, cough, and become addicted to tissues

from seasonal allergies like hay fever. Medications or insect

stings make us itch and develop a rash or hives. Food

allergies can make us sick and miserable, or they can be

life threatening. Symptoms can be very debilitating with fa-

tigue, headache, poor sleep, and in severe cases, infections,

migraines, difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness. The

number one cause of recurring infections is allergies. Need-

less to say, allergies should be taken seriously. The good

news? Treatments today are effective, less difficult than we

might remember from our childhood, and are available for

many common and not-so-common allergies.

The most important step to reducing or eliminating aller-

gies from your world is to see a specialist in allergies and

immune deficiencies. Dr. Lichtenberger is a board certi-

fied allergist-immunologist, with an additional year of

advanced, specialty training at the National Institutes of

Health in immune deficiency disorders.

Asthma is a common lung disorder in adults and children

where the small breathing tubes in the lungs become in-

flamed. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath,

and cough. Children are often affected. An early diagnosis

is important so that symptoms can be reduced. Dr. Lichten-

berger explained: “Some people don’t even know they have

asthma, and if you’ve had untreated asthma for a long time,

your lung function can be permanently decreased. Envi-

ronmental allergies cause 90% of asthma in people under

Photos, top to bottom:

• Dr. Lichtenberger discusses treatment options with Karen Campbell.

• Jennifer Meyers and Mike Barker prepare shots for patients.

• Left to right, receptionists Kendra Lackey and Jennifer Kennedy, and Anna Jackson, RN, practice manager


35 years old. For some, including the

elderly, allergies are the cause. Allergy

immunotherapy, in the form of injec-

tions, is the most effective long-term

treatment. A number of injections are

often prescribed along with medications,

treating underlying medical conditions,

and avoiding allergens and irritants.” Dr.

Lichtenberger told me that it’s no longer

a lifelong treatment, but long term

results.

EXCELLENT PATIENT CARE

Dr. Lichtenberger opened his practice

in 2012. His patient care philosophy

is simple but critical: to put the most

sophisticated and up to date medical

practice in the care of allergies, asthma,

and immunologic disorders, in the hands

of our patients. In the last four years,

the practice has grown–more patients

are experiencing life changing and life

saving results. Awareness of the benefits

of diagnosing and properly treating im-

mune deficiencies, allergies, and asthma

is also growing and has improved the

quality of life for many. “It’s important

that we focus on individuals, on the

whole person,” he told me. “We listen to

our patients and test carefully in order to

develop a complete, personal treatment

plan for each patient. We can schedule

patients into the office quickly, and we

get to know them and, with children,

their families, during their treatment. It’s

a very rewarding feeling when you can

help someone get their life back.”

A NETWORK OF PROFESSIONAL

PARTNERS

Allergy Partners, based in Asheville,

North Carolina, is the nation’s larg-

est, single-specialty practice in allergy,

asthma and immunology. With a history

of expertise in the field going back

to 1977, the company now has 125

practices in 22 states. “We have a huge

supporting network of physicians na-

tionwide,” Dr. Lichtenberger said. “With

this team, we’re able to stay informed

and up to date. We maintain regular

communication on the latest treatments

and trends.”

Allergy Partners of Statesville’s website,

www.allergypartners.com/statesville, is

a wealth of information about immune

deficiencies, allergies, and related health

concerns. Check it out, and schedule an

appointment to meet Dr. Lichtenberger

and his staff. They are available to an-

swer your questions and concerns. They

will help you get your allergy symptoms

under control so you can begin to enjoy

life so much more!

ALLERGY PARTNERS of Statesville

1525 Davie AvenueStatesville, NC 28677

(704) 873-5055www.allergypartners.com/

statesville

Allergy Partners of Statesville's Team




Wedding bells are ringing! The Charles

Mack Citizen Center provides a beauti-

ful venue for weddings. With six large

banquet rooms, two outdoor courtyards,

and a 231-seat auditorium, the facility

can accommodate any wedding from

the most intimate to a celebration of 400

people. “We have about eighty weddings

each year here,” Stephanie Crisco, Cen-

ter director, said. “Our staff is trained

and really knows how to keep weddings

running very smoothly. We spend a lot

of time with the bride, groom, mom,

and wedding planners to prepare for the

big day, and we are here to assist during

the wedding to be sure they have every-

thing they need.”

The Citizen Center provides the venue,

and they can also provide some of the

décor. It is a one-stop-shop that makes it

easier for brides. Linens can be chosen,

including table linens, chair covers, and

chair sashes in a full palette of color op-

tions and different types, including basic

polyester or fancy rosettes. The room

becomes more intimate when beautiful

ceiling drapes are added.

The Citizen Center can help you get

started on your centerpieces with its

beautiful selection of vases, mirrors, lan-

terns, and candles. “If you don’t know

what to do or where to begin, you can

use some of these basic elements and

By Meredith Collins

add your own pieces and floral accents,”

Stephanie said. “When you provide

vases for your 200-person wedding,

that’s 25 vases you have to buy, clean

and store, not to mention transporting to

the Center and taking them back. This

is one example of how we can take that

additional work off the bride.”

Clients appreciate the Citizen Center

taking care of the details, big and small.

The staff makes sure everything is perfect

before your guests walk through the

door.

A benefit of the Citizen Center is that

you can bring in your own vendors.

Stephanie and her staff can help with

recommendations. “It is extremely af-

fordable to have any type of event here,”

Stephanie said. “We can customize a

package to suit your needs. We take a lot

of pride in being a part of the Town of

Mooresville and providing this beautiful

and affordable venue to downtown and

its guests.”

Pictured left–Stephanie Crisco, Center director, and Vickie Morrow, rental coordinator, are a dynamic team for clients. They have been making event planning easy and stress free for everyone for 10 years!

Photo by Sheri Allison

Opposite page, clockwise–The Moore Room is lit up in blue for

the Hollins Wedding.

Ready for the bride to walk down the

aisle in Alice’s Garden

A whimsical alter for saying vows in

Alice’s Garden

Photos on page 19 by Alan Bradford

LIVNG

I

The Jewel of Downtown Mooresville


In addition to weddings, the Citizen

Center is available for any type of event.

They host many off-site business meet-

ings. With large and small rooms, it is

the perfect venue for planning a full,

general session and breakout sessions.

“We are equipped with all the lat-

est technology that business meetings

require,” Stephanie said. “We have state-

of-the-art projection and audio. It’s basi-

cally plug and play. You don’t have to be

a tech expert, and our staff can assist.”

The Charles Mack Citizen Center215 N Main Street • Mooresville

(704) 662-3334www.cmccmooresville.com

www.cmccmooresville.com


P R E M A R I TA L C O U N S E L I N G W O R K S !

Building a Marriage to LastMarriage is a word/institution which conjures many associations, some positive and some negative, i.e. a new beginning; the start of a journey; a friendship; an emotional risk; a loss of self. An unknown writer once said, “A marriage is like an empty box. We receive from marriage what we put into it.” The more care and attention that a couple devotes to the marriage, the more positive the relationship will be!

Do you really know each other?It is possible to create your own marriage of mutual design! There are many components to consider: personality, values, finances, one’s family, and goals. These are but a few areas that you and your spouse may consider when mutually designing your marriage. Your marriage does not have to be like that of your parents or grandparents.

PersonalityIt is crucial to your marriage’s creation and success to understand your partner’s personality. Their personality will give clues as to how they might resolve a conflict or handle a situation.

ValuesIdentifying the values your partner holds close to them is significant in building harmony and understanding differences that may cause issues later in life.

FinancesFinances are one of the most common sources of marital discord. Every family has a way they handle money. Some couples do not discuss finances openly, while others do. Finances can be a touchy topic, and many couples tend to avoid it and instead seek to fulfill goals. This can result in one person squirreling away every penny made, while the other person may have a paycheck spent before they even get it.

FamilyWhile dating and before marriage, little consideration is often given to the potential in-laws and extended family. This does a disservice to both partners. Being able to interact with your spouse’s family allows you to learn more about their upbringing, gives you insight into their value systems, and allows you to recognize differences in the family that could help you with problems that arise in the future of your own marriage.

GoalsConsidering each other’s goals allows you to recognize your partner’s potential and dreams. Do you want to travel, have children, be a stay-at-home-parent, have a job, or start a business? Any number of things might comprise your partner’s goals, and communication is the first step to understanding what they are.

CommunicationIn the midst of all these parts, there is one crucial oil that keeps the mar-riage running smoothly. Communi-cation flows through understanding values, personality, family, setting goals, managing finances, and creat-ing a positive marriage.

Communication is not just about talking. It also involves listening and empathizing. With clear communi-cation, achieving a mutually created marriage is well within your reach.

Strong communication skills provide the tools for laying the foundation of a happy and successful relationship!

About the Author:Dr. Patricia Littwin is a Clinical Psychologist, Certified Sex Therapist and Gender Therapist and the owner of LKN Psychiatric Services, LLC, located at 110 Charleston Drive in Mooresville. For more information, visit www.lknpsychiatric.com, or call 704.696.8182.

By Dr. Patricia Littwin


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Stuck in a chicken or beef rut? Mix up weeknight meals by swapping seafood into family favorite dishes, such as burgers and quesadillas.

Island Shrimp Quesadillas

Serves: 4

1½ cups shredded cheese, such as Mexican blend or cheddar and

Monterey Jack2 green onions, thinly

sliced1 teaspoon McCormick

Chili Powder1 teaspoon McCormick

Cumin, Ground½ teaspoon McCormick

Oregano Leaves8 flour tortillas (8-inch)1 tablespoon vegetable oil8 ounces frozen cooked

small shrimp, thawed and well drained

1 large ripe mango, peeled and coarsely chopped

DirectionsMix cheese, green onions and sea-sonings in medium bowl. Set aside.

Lightly brush one side of 4 flour tor-tillas with oil. Place oiled-side down on baking sheet. Top tortillas with half of the cheese mixture, then with shrimp and mango. Sprinkle re-maining cheese evenly over shrimp

What's Cooking?!Seafood Swaps for Weeknight Meals

and mango. Top with remaining tortillas. Brush top with oil.

Grill over medium heat about 4 minutes per side until cheese is melted and tortilla is browned. Cut into wedges to serve.

Cajun Salmon Burger3 pouches (5 ounces

each) boneless skinless salmon, drained

1 egg, beaten¹/3 cup panko bread crumbs¼ cup reduced fat mayon-

naise¼ cup finely chopped

green onion¼ cup finely chopped red

bell pepper2 teaspoons McCormick

Perfect Pinch Cajun Sea-soning

1 tablespoon oil4 hamburger rolls

DirectionsMix all ingredients. Shape into 4 patties. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add salmon patties; cook 5 minutes per side or until lightly browned and cooked through. Serve on rolls with Lime Mayonnaise and desired toppings.

Lime Mayonnaise¼ cup reduced fat mayon-

naise½ teaspoon grated lime peel½ teaspoon lime juice

Recipes and photos compliments of McCormick Spice. For more recipes, visit:

McCormick.com/recipes




A W O R D F R O M

Enjoy Statesville'sOutdoor Music

Scene!

David BradleyPresident and CEOGreater Statesville

Chamber of Commerce

A few indicators of spring would include the bright pink of blooming azaleas, the sound of

neighborhood lawn mowers, and the gentle warm breeze. Oh…I forgot…the growing number of posters that announce upcoming events! What the heck!

We had three large events in April, and we decided that our promotional posters in our doors and windows were getting lost amongst all the other upcoming an-nouncements. If someone rode by, they could easily assume our windows had been knocked out and replaced by post-ers. I made the smart proclamation that we should take a careful look at the 15 fliers we had posted and take down all of those that were not announcing an April event. After self-congratulating myself for coming up with an incredibly well thought out plan, I was taken aback by the single promotional piece that came down (it was promoting an event on May 2). All in all, that’s a sign of progress.

This column is all about the old (consid-ering nine-years-old) and the new.

Piedmont HealthCare Friday after Five has become a “thing to do” on Friday evenings in town. It is not unusual for as many as 2,500 people to come out and enjoy old/new friends at the end of West Broad Street. We listen to great music, some storytelling by our friends and neighbors, and enjoy one of the friendliest venues in North Carolina for a downtown concert. The music will start at 5:45 each afternoon on these dates:

May 6–Polyester Apocolypse May 20–CatalinasJune 10–Darrell Harwood June 24–Carolina Soul BandJuly 1–Tonya Wood Music Company July 15–Thirsty HorsesJuly 29–Mel Jones and His Bag o’ Bones August 12–Smitty and the Jump StartersAugust 26–Roy Daye and Cookie Band

These concerts are free and continually bring energy and vibrancy to downtown Statesville. Soft drinks, water, beer, and wine are available onsite, as well as some food. We hope that you’ll also come out and enjoy downtown Statesville’s restau-rants following each concert. Great eats to be had!

So…what’s new?

The inaugural Carolina Roots MusicFest the weekend of May 13 and 14. The coordinating team of Carolina Balloon-Fest wants to utilize our festival site at the Statesville Regional Airport for more fun events. They have stepped up to the plate in a big way with a weekend of entertainment that is sure to draw music aficionados from around the region. This unique two-day celebration of Americana folk, rhythm & blues, styled out rock & roll and eclectic, fused music will have something for almost everyone. Food trucks will be on hand for the hungry, craft beer for the thirsty, and outdoor ac-tivities for everyone. Camping is permit-ted. This is a ticketed event with a stellar list of multi-regional bands, so purchase your tickets early at www.carolinaroots-musicfest.com.

Friday, Gates open at 3 p.m.; on-stage music 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.Moose and FriendsThe Black LilliesKeller Williams

Saturday, Gates open at 9 a.m.; on stage music 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Steelfish & IncenseLow CountsJMTCBAbe Reid and the SpikedriversMajor and the MonbacksHoly Ghost Tent RevivalAnderson East

Creative energy in this great community is easy to build…just come out and enjoy it!




PhotobyCaptainGus

Kirk BallardPresident and CEO

Mooresville - South IredellChamber of Commerce

Honoring Those Who Have Fought

For Freedom

A WORD FROM

All great things are simple. Many

can be expressed in a single

word: justice, honor, duty,

mercy, hope, and freedom.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident

that all men are created equal and that

they are endowed by their Creator with

certain inalienable rights.” With these

words written 240 years ago, we began

the fight for freedom that all men have

fought for since time began. In 1776,

we lit the fire of freedom and fought

for our own country. Our own inner

struggle began over 150 years ago, when

brother fought brother, and we paid a

heavy price. We fought each other in

order to make sure that those inalienable

rights were truly endowed to all men.

The birthright of freedom that has been

justly bestowed on us all by our Creator

is so fundamental and true, so simple

a fact, and is so just a cause that we are

a threat to those who seek to stifle the

voice of freedom. Within each and every

one of us is an inner voice that yearns to

be free, that will be free no matter what

cost, no matter what price, no matter

how big or how fierce the fight; the

voice will always fight to be heard.

Since our own independence, we have

fought around the world to assist those

who also demanded freedom. Unfor-

tunately, there is still discrimination in

this world with slavery, slaughter, and

starvation. So the fight will continue and

where the cause is just, we will answer

that call, because we have a responsibil-

ity to give what we can and assist where

we can.

Across the globe the world still turns

its tired yet hopeful eyes toward our

horizon. In the distance a light still

burns bright beckoning those yearning

to be free. The mantle of freedom still

rests here, and we still pay a heavy price.

On Memorial Day, we come together

to honor those who have served and to

honor the memory of those who have

paid the ultimate price. A price paid to

keep God’s gift to the world, freedom,

forever alive.

Many have paid the ultimate price with

the loss of their life. Many more have

paid with the loss of a limb. All have

paid with the loss of their innocence.

And those who survived, burdened by

guilt, believe that they have paid with

the loss of their immortal souls. The

debt that we owe them cannot be repaid

or repaired by us alone.

This Memorial Day we will come to-

gether to pray to God for mercy, and ask

that He might, in His glory, repair and

restore their minds, their bodies, their

spirits, and even their immortal souls,

so that in the end, they may be forever

at peace.

The price of freedom is very high. It

must be fought for, protected, and hand-

ed to our children, because freedom is

never more than one generation away

from extinction.




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