Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A Fallen Hero

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A Fallen Hero... The sad news of more fallen soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan recently took on a much more personal note in our community of Frederick, Maryland when the photo of 24-year old Lance Cpl. Jordan Chrobot appeared on the front page of our local newspaper. While on patrol in Afghanistan on September 26, Jordan took a bullet just above his vest, and died in surgery shortly afterwards.
The stinging news of Jordan's death was driven deeper because we knew him personally. We watched him grow up in our church, and have enjoyed many years of friendship with many members of his family. During his recent deployments to Iraq first, and then Afghanistan, his grandparents frequently requested our Sunday School class to lift his unit in prayer and for strength for Amber, his young wife of two and a half years.
feature Support from the community has been immense. Jordan's funeral was attended by more than a thousand people, including 80 members of the Patriot Guard, a Viet Nam veterans motorcycle group that held flags and saluted the casket as it passed by. The vest on one of the bikers (right) said it best: All Gave Some, Some Gave All. (Click on the link to see more pictures.)
Jordan's body was laid to rest at the cemetery across the highway from his grandparents' home. In that home, Jordan and his siblings and cousins, aunts and uncles spent many happy hours. Jordan and Amber were even married there in the back yard. Following high school he worked for his grandfather, who had served as a Marine in Viet Nam. He and his family all knew that Jordan wanted to be a Marine from the time he was a little kid.
At Jordan's funeral, pastor Jimmy Inman said that Chrobot died doing something he loved. He fought for his country and to bring the hope of freedom to the people of Afghanistan and Iraq. He knew what he wanted in life and pursued his ideals to the end.
feature While the current economy is ravaging this country in ways that nearly every American is experiencing, many of the families of our fallen and wounded military men and women are hurting even more deeply. I'm sure that many of you have been touched by the ultimate sacrifice of a soldier. Jordan's death brought the news headlines home for us. In spite of political upheavals and current events, it's good to know that there are so many heroes among us. Let's keep them in our thoughts and prayers.