How fitting.  L. G. Lacy’s funeral service was held in Ft. Worth last Friday. Mr. Lacy, a veteran of World War II, was buried with full military honors Friday afternoon following a very moving service honoring his life. I make no excuses. I am more than just a little partial to the veterans of World War II. Mr. Lacy’s military service mirrored the integrity and dedication that is so characteristic of members of the Greatest Generation.

He served as Chief Executive Officer on the USS Starling in the Pacific. The ship began its service when it sailed from San Francisco on January 22nd, 1943. It was intended to function as a minesweeper. Sweeping mines was extremely dangerous work. The ship was awarded World War II battle stars during its service.

This young man from Fort Worth, Texas named L.G. Lacy helped the crew of the Starling to accomplish its mission. On one occasion, a Kamikaze Japanese pilot attempted to attack the ship. The ship’s crew in turn shot him down. After recovering his body, Mr. Lacy found his wallet with pictures of the pilot’s wife and children. He felt compelled to provide the enemy pilot with a proper military burial at sea. Such actions were most likely not according to Navy protocol, but they revealed a lot about Mr. Lacy’s character.

The war ended. L.G. joined thousands of other veterans in returning home to start their professions and families. Starting a family was going to happen much sooner than he knew… Little did he know when he showed up at church one Sunday morning in uniform that there was a young lady sitting in a pew not far away telling her friend after seeing L.G. for the first time: “I am going to marry that man!” She was right. They fell in love and married. Their life together ending up spanning some 63 years.

As I listened to several people eulogize this fine man Friday morning at the very church where his bride to be saw him for the first time, I was moved by his lifelong concern for the vulnerable among us. He served on the board for Foster’s Home for Children. There is no doubt in my mind that he was exceedingly generous with the home financially, but he did not want any of that revealed after his death. In recent years, he joined a small group at his church that is intended to reach out to people struggling with drug and alcohol addictions. People wondered how Mr. Lacy would fit in a group of that nature. He soon connected with members of the group and was a blessing in their lives.

The World War II veterans among us are pretty special. Yesterday at church I asked them to stand as a group before recognizing all of our veterans. They are not that many of them still with us. I am more than just a little partial to the World War II veterans among us. My father served as a pilot during WWII in the US Army Air Corps. May we be ever appreciative of all of our veterans on this Memorial Day.