SERVICEMEN       

GOD  BLESS AMERICA
O BEAUTIFUL FOR SPACIOUS SKIES,
FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN;
FOR PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTIES
ABOVE THE FRUITED PLAIN!
AMERICA! AMERICA!
GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE,

Servicemen shown below are connected to our church by parents, grandparents or other relatives and friends who have requested that their picture be shown here. We make their safety a matter of prayer and ask that you do the same. If you have a serviceman or servicewoman whom you would like listed please let us know and we will list them on this page amd make them a matter of prayer.
 Send all requests to webmaster at bottom of page
or call 810 648 5337

Travis Thompson (RIGHT)  took his training with the United States Coast Guard in Cape May, New Jersey and was stationed at the United States Coast Guard Station in Staten Island, New York. He was then transferred and stationed with the Coast Guard in Detroit. In June of 2010, he will be transferred to Portsmouth, NH, and will spend three months on the ocean and three months on land. Travis is a computer engineer and his work will involve keeping the ship runnning electronically. Prior to his transfer, he will be married in early June and he and his bride will be living in Kittery in southern Maine which will be about ten minutes from his station. Travis is the son of Paul and Karen Thompson, Port Huron. Grandparents are Marvin and Leona Innes and Barbara Thompson. 

   Captain Andrew Smeckert (Left) is the son of Terry and Teresa Smeckert, of Allendale, Michigan, the grandson of Leland and Doris Smeckert, Snover and Julius Kopacz, Sandusky. Andrew is a member of the United States Airforce and attended Officer's Training School in Texas. He now resides in Alabama  with his wife Holli, where he is now stationed at Barksdale Airforce Base in Shreveport Al.  Andrew is the navigator on B 52 bombers                
   SPC Matthew Birkinbine (Right) following his tour of duty in Iraq and then being in the United States for a period of time was due to be re-assigned to Seoul, South Korea and scheduled to leave December 12, 2010. His wife Audrey and two children, Anneliese and McKenzie are expected to follow him shortly. Matthew, from Palms, Michigan  is a graduate of Deckerville High School. His parents are DJ and Debbie Birkinbine of Palms.

IT 2 Jonathan Fischer, Operation Department 10C DIV, left son of Mr. and Mrs Dale Fischer of Snover, Michigan, joined the U.S. Navy, August 29, 2004. He is now stationed at USS Fort McHenry,  Baltimore, Maryland. Address  is USS Fort McHenry, LSD 43, FPO  AE 09569-1731

Air Force Captain, Ron King (right) is the son of Boyd and Linda King and the great nephew of Alger Krueger. Formerly stationed  in Italy, he has been tranferred to Avondale, Arizona where he will be the next three years teaching in the AirForce. 

SPC Richard Lestiene Jr.,  left
is currently serving his second tour of combat duty with  the 101st airborne div (air assault) in Afghanistan. He expects this tour to end in February of 2012.  He is pursuing a job change to Military Intelligence.  He resides with his wife Jessica (Pease) Lestienne (Sandusky) in Oak Grove, KY.with their daughter Addison who just turned four months. 

SPC William Lestienne, right just returned home this summer following his  tour of duty serving in the 101st airborne div (air assault) in Afghanistan. This is William's first combat tour to Afghanistan. He previously did two combat tours in Baghdad, Iraq. He is currently awaiting a school opening for Chaplain assistant. He resides in Oak Grove, Ky.  Richard and William are the sons of Sharon Duke, Snover and Richard Lestienne Sr., Detroit. 

ARLINGTON CEMETERY
TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS-AN AWESOME SIGHT
              1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why? 21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.
              2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to
begin his return walk and why? 21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1
              3. Why are his gloves wet? His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.
              4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not? He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder. 
              5. How often are the guards changed? Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
              6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to? For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10" and 6' 2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30." Other requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of  life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on  or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform  {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on  their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin. The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror. The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery . A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame. Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms
ready for guard duty.
              ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
              In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC , our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled
continuously, 24/7, since 1930.
God Bless and keep them.