Prayer in Memory Carl Gordon Lansford.

Lord, please read these words to Gordon from me.

Dear Gordon,
My brother-in-law,
My brother in Christ,
I give thanks to God for you.

I am so proud of you.
At age 18 you fought so bravely in the Vietnam War.
America did not win that war.
But, you won three Purple Hearts.
Those symbols of courage were not enough
For the VFW Chapter in your town
To let you in when you came home.
Yet, thanks be to God,
There was always room in the inn of His heart for you.

As a decorated soldier, you fought your greatest battle
After you set foot again on American soil.
You courageously and optimistically faced, one by one,
The ravages of Agent Orange.
The amputation of your legs.
The loss of feeling in your hands and arms.
Kidney failure.
Scarred lungs.
Dialysis.
Doggedly fighting for the healthcare and governmental benefits
Every uniformed American soldier should be awarded
As a tribute for service to our Country.

As with my own bride, Dorothy,
God sent you an angelic wife, Barbara.
He made sure that when there was less and less of you in the physical,
There was more of more of God’s Grace and love in the spiritual
In Barbara’s inexhaustible devotion and care for you.

Today,
Gordon, you lost the final battle
Which you and none of us can ever win.
Yet, you received victory of eternal life over death
Because the God you served
Made the ultimate and greatest sacrifice for you.

God’s purpose for your creation has been fulfilled.

I pray that you enjoy the Heavenly peace,
The freedom of pain,
The joy,
You have so long deserved.

Peace. Love. The Light of Christ to you.

Amen.