Last Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11, 75 people met in the Skyroom to honor the generations of men and women who have served and sacrificed in the Armed Forces of the United States. Many family members and friends were in attendance. Nick Barrett, Jeffrey Rose and Henry Jones, all representing LAC leadership, were there to support the Veterans ministry.

Navy Veteran, Calvin Johnson, opened the program with the invocation. Following an excellent breakfast, prepared by Catina Keyes, we stood for the National Anthem. Army Veteran, Robbin Okamoto, then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Our special guest, John Masaki, a U.S. Army Veteran who served in helicopter gunships in Vietnam, gave highlights of his recent Honor Flight to our Nation’s capital.

Keynote speaker, Colonel Charles Hwang, detailed his amazing life’s journey with his family following the Korean War to the United States. Confronted with discrimination in “the promised land,” he spoke of fear and worries as he matriculated through school followed by the tragedies his parents endured with the loss of their business during the riots in 1992 and the loss of their home in the earthquake in 1994. His parents died broken hearted and penniless. God was NOWHERE!

Finally, Charles’ faith in God was elevated and he began to face everything head on with Christ as his Savior. He described his military journey and how he has led by example with compassion for his soldiers. Charles concluded with a remarkable slide that highlighted his spiritual journey—that GOD is not NOWHERE but is NOW HERE!

During the US Armed Forces Medley, our veterans stood when their service song was played. Navy Veteran, Jerry Barringer, closed with the Benediction. As the bells sounded for dismissal, we asked for healing prayers for our brother Mariano Vasta.