MetroLutheran

In a first-of-its-kind honor for The Lutheran Witness, the flagship periodical of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), was awarded a U.S. flag flown over a military base.
The Joint Detention Group at Joint Task Force-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (JTF), presented the flag in commemoration of the magazine’s August 2012 issue, which was dedicated to telling the stories of military servicemen and women, and the chaplains who minister to them.
The flag was given on behalf of the Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Gard, an LCMS chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, currently serving with JTF. Gard is professor of Exegetical Theology and dean of Military Chaplaincy Programs at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
“Please accept this small token of my gratitude for your tremendous support of our chaplains and the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States,” Gard wrote in the note accompanying the flag. “You have consistently and wonderfully brought these American heroes into the mind and prayers of God’s people.”
The flag was flown at Camp Delta — one of three camps on the base — for nine minutes and 11 seconds October 31, 2012, in tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in terrorist attacks in the United States and those who continue to fight in the global war on terrorism.
“Receiving this flag is a humbling and profound reminder of the way in which the LCMS is poised to show Christ’s love and mercy to our military heroes,” said Adriane Dorr, managing editor of The Lutheran Witness. “It’s also an encouragement for each of us to pray for and about our Armed Forces as well as those chaplains and pastors who bring these men and women the Gospel of our Lord, both on the battlefield and in our congregations when they return home.”

Tags: Adriane Dorr, Camp Delta, chaplain, Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, Daniel Gard, Guantanamo Bay, Joint Detention Group, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo Bay, JTF, LCMS, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Gard, The Lutheran Witness