The pastor at Faith Baptist Church, Bruce Goddard, thought it would be a good idea to invite representatives of the local law enforcement community to mingle with the kids that attend their church.
Wildomar Police, along with some from Lake Elsinore, visit the youth of Faith Baptist Church.
The timing was set between services, and after the three patrol cars arrived, a large number of children joined for a photo.
Getting the kids into position reminded me of the phrase "herding cats". It took a bit of work, but in short order Pastor Bruce Goddard, got them all lined up.
Afterward they shared some pastries, they might have been donuts... not too sure ☺, and chatted, shook hands, gave out stickers and posed for pictures.
This young man was getting a sticker that the officers were handing out.
The police have always had a tough job, but it seems to be getting tougher and tougher with each passing year. It's nice to see the community showing such support, and teaching the younger generation that cops are our friends.
I asked the officers if they'd pose for a shot in front of the Wildomar police car. They were all too happy to oblige... but now I realize that I should have asked for a sticker too. Next time.
A couple of Border Patrol agents attended too.
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Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson Wildomar Rapis the nineteenth chapter in that book.
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Faith Baptist Church in Wildomar was the site of "Civil Servants Day" where all the elected officials, with jurisdiction over Wildomar were invited, including Governor Jerry Brown... though one of his liaisons politely declined due to a scheduling conflict. 😄
A look at the church from the parking lot, and some clippings from the program.
A handful of local elected officials attended, including Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, Wildomar Mayor Ben Benoit, Wildomar Councilmember Bridgette Moore and Lake Elsinore Councilmember Daryl Hickman. Upon arrival, after several friendly greetings by all along the route from the parking lot, the honored guests were asked to sign in.
Making it official.
From there, they were shown to their seats near the orchestra section... imagine that, they had a live orchestra, accompanying their choir, and other singers. Pastor Bruce Goddard started with a word of prayer, thanking the Lord for the right to gather freely. After a hymn, there were a few words about the biblical admonition of "praying for our leaders" and how that didn't just apply to those you agree with. After being invited to the stage, Melissa Melendez was the first to speak for a few moments. She quoted Proverbs 11:14 where it says, "For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers."
• "That's a great way to describe the people who are elected into office. We have great authority over people's lives and we and we need to do that in a way that is thoughtful and a way that is righteous and moral. And we're human, and sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes we say things we shouldn't, and we have to apologize for them. I wish we were perfect, but Lord knows that I'm not." (the audience chuckled in unison at that) • "When you're praying for your elected leaders ask God to help us make the right decision. Ask God to help us be strong against all the forces that are out there asking us to do the wrong thing, for the wrong reasons... and believe me, there are many. You have no idea the number of people that come in and out of my office in Sacramento saying, "We need you to do this, we want you to do that." And when we say, "That's not the right thing for me to do for my constituents," they give you a whole list of reasons of why you should anyway. A lot of guilt is involved, as a Catholic I'm very familiar with the guilt angle, so... (at which the audience gave out a hearty laugh of concurrence). Guilt doesn't work on me." (where the laughter continued).
• "I thank you for your strength, I thank you for coming together as a community and praying for your elected leaders... because, nothing is stronger than God, nothing! Nobody that comes into my office is stronger than God, no lobbyists, no special interests, no one is stronger than the influence God has on our lives."
The next speaker was 2018 Wildomar Mayor Ben Benoit.
• "I was so happy to be able to come here today, and [be] with you here today. (Referring to Melissa Melendez's comment about guilt) It's absolutely true, the guilt thing is there every time someone comes into our office, puts their hand on the table and tells us why we have to do something... and just like Melissa grew up in a Catholic household, [same for me] and [guilt] doesn't work." (the audience responded with laughter and applause.)
City Councilmember Bridgette Moore was next to speak. She took the opportunity to invite the congregation to the Prayer Breakfast in May.
• "We're going to have a prayer breakfast on May third, [in conjunction with] the National Day of Prayer, the first Thursday of May every year. I started this [for our area] back in 2016 when I was Mayor. I'm glad my fellow councilmembers are continuing it, so I invite all of you to attend. May 3rd at 6:30 in the morning. It will be at Wildomar City Hall in the [Council] Chambers. However, no city funds were used, this is being put on by a private organization (a bit of laughter came with that last statement) just wanted to make that clear." (which brought more laughter of understanding).
Once the local electeds were finished speaking, Pastor Goddard then bestowed some books upon the guests. The first one was about the founders of America.
From left to right, Lake Elsinore Councilmember Daryl Hickman, Wildomar Councilmember Bridgette Moore, 67th District Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, Wildomar Mayor Ben Benoit and (with book in hand) Pastor Bruce Goddard.
The group looks over their books, and the extra three volume set handed Melissa Melendez.
As Pastor Goddard was handing the books about American Leaders to her, he uncorked a funny quip that got everyone laughing.
"This is a set of books on leaders of America, and just great volumes and again you can just read a page and put it down — you've got nothing to do, right?"
- Pastor Bruce Goddard to Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez
The fun part for me came during the photo op. Though they had an in house photographer, I got out of the pew I was sitting in to get a shot for this blog. Lo and behold, I was invited by the pastor to take a picture from the same place that their photographer had been stationed. If someone has a shot of me while standing up there, I'd love to get a copy.
It's always fun to take photos of photo ops.
As you can see, that spot was perfect for such a group shot. Left to right: Daryl Hickman, Bridgette Moore, Melissa Melendez, Ben Benoit and Bruce Goddard.
What an uplifting morning. From the greetings on the way in and to our seats, to the presentations and even the sermon. What a nice and inviting place filled with caring people. I'm so glad I was invited along... thank you.
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To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. – Thomas Aquinas Wildomar Rap can't explain any of it.
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A beautiful morning in Wildomar, with blue skies and perfect temps for the 2016 Memorial Day event. There were several hundred people in attendance.
A look at various flags representing the different branches of the military positioned well behind the stage.
It started with the flag raising as a bugler played, then the pledge of allegiance, an invocation, followed by an orchestral version of The Star Spangled Banner.
The Pledge of Allegiance led by Baptist Boys Battalion.
Men's Choir singing with a Fallen Soldier Battle Cross in front of the stage.
We heard a moving story by Tim Nichols entitled An Apology To World War II Veterans, about a young, mid-1970s soldier on leave in Vienna. An old man approaching him, and calling him "noble" for the acts of American Soldiers during WWII.
I've been to this event twice now, and my favorite part is where the living veterans come to the front, many with great difficulty, and then tell a little about themselves.
In response to "How many enlisted before you got married?"
One man, Dave Lower, entered the US Army Air Corps in February of 1942 (you can see him in the short video below).
It was an inspiring day, and one where sunglasses came in handy... not so much to shield the eyes from the sun, but to keep others from seeing a person's watery eyes. If you were in attendance, and have a heartbeat, you were moved too. There was a bit of audience participation, and one question was asked, "Do we have a wife that had a child while your husband was deployed overseas?" Only one hand went up, and the woman's daughter had been born in November of 1947, which is just a few months after my mother —and a two weeks after my father, were born. Those kinds of things really bring it close to home. Below is a video of a girl's choir singing "The Price of Freedom".
Mayor Pro-Tem Tim Walker and Mayor Bridgette Moore were in attendance and acknowledged from the podium. It was nice to see Tim out there, he's still on the DL as he heals from a recent surgery.
Mayor Pro-Tem Tim Walker and Mayor Bridgette Moore.
I happened to be sitting in the front row when a vet came up and was looking for a seat. I invited him to sit next to me and we chatted a bit.
He was wearing a hat and shirt that indicated that he was a Vietnam Vet, though he jokingly told me he had fought in the Civil War, and he'd recently been hobbled by a surgery, but he still attended the ceremony.
I didn't get his last name, but his name is Chris, and if I didn't properly thank him for his service, I'd like to do that now. ☺
Chris as he was telling the crowd about his service.
• • •
We do not what we ought, What we ought not, we do, And lean upon the thought That Chance will bring us through.
— Empedocles, 490BC-430BC
Wildomar Rap wants to thank those that have defended the USA throughout our history, be they volunteers or conscripts.
It was beautifully overcast morning this Memorial Day as Wildomar Cemetery was the site of Faith Baptist Church's program to honor those that gave their lives for our freedom, and living veterans too.
The service started a little after 10:00am and lasted about an hour. It included patriotic music, the raising of the flag, the pledge of allegiance, poems of reflection, honoring the dead —including Eric Seaman who died on a mission of mercy in Nepal, and showing respect for the veterans that made it back.
A look at some of the veterans that were on hand.
I've never been to such an event before, and it's a shame that such important moments of reflection aren't more universally appreciated —by actual attendance (lip service is easy). My grandfather was in the Korean War, and I never actually thought to ask him about his service. I wish I could ask him today, but he died in 1999 at the tender age of 66 of a heart attack.
I bumped into Planning Commission Chairman (or Chairperson if you must) Veronica Langworthy just as I was taking some pictures of the two Korean War vets (in the light blue windbreakers). I was telling her about my grandfather, and she told me that her father had served in Korea too. I wonder if she could tell that I was having a difficult time holding it together at that moment?
↓ Here is a short video montage that captured the day from my perspective ↓
It was a great morning and very inspiring to be all that I can be, but I found something that didn't sit right with me. During a rousing 10 minute speech by Bruce Goddard, that was intended to well the hearts of the listener with pride, several times it turned to ideological politics where "The Liberal" was bashed repeatedly.
(Hit the 7:20 mark of the video to hit the first of the remarks in question. Also @ 8:20 and 8:30.)
Here is where I lose some "friends". Let me reestablish, once again, that I am neither Republican nor Democrat. Not a Liberal and not a Conservative. Though I didn't vote for Bush 43, he was my president and I didn't tolerate the Code Pinkies that tried to disparage him. Likewise, though I voted against Obama, I'm PROUD to call him MY president too.
Sorry, but the only thing worse than a Liberal is a Conservative — BOTH sides stink, and I find it disgusting to suggest that people that do not share your political leanings should have their patriotism challenged. Please keep your petty politics to yourself when we are honoring our war dead next time.
This is where I'd like to thank all those, even the liberals and the even conservatives, that fought on behalf of our nation. I can only imagine what you went through. In much the same way a life long blind person tries to imagine a sunset... yet fails. Try as we might, I'm sure that our best guesses aren't even close to what it was like in battle.
• • •
“People say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Truth is, you knew what you had, you just never thought you’d lose it.” — Elite Daily
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