Lesson 10: The Hero of Heroes
By David Chaltas
March 13, 2005


My senses have detected the realization that the reenacting season is lingering in the morning shadows awaiting the gentle touch of the sun with great anticipation! Can you not feel the yearning of the spirit to once again step upon the sacred soil of our fathers, to meet old friends and to make new ones? Can you not taste the morning coffee and smell the sausage as it is cooked over an open fire pit? Can you not hear the crackling of the campfire, the rustling on the wing as men and women scurry with pots, pans and the whispering chatter of a camp preparing to greet the dawn of a new day given to us by a Righteous Redeemer? Can you not see the faded gray figures emerge from the morning mist as you catch the glimmer of the colors as they are satiated with a beam of sunlight above the dew? Can you not feel the stirrings of the heart as you dawn your uniform and once again step out of your tent to be lost in a world of yesterday where God, honor, integrity and duty are given the highest devotion? Does not your spirit feel the calling of the long roll as we prepare for the School of the Soldier and to 'hon our sabers' for yet another season. But as we break our winter camp and get ready for another year of remembrance of our ancestors let us take a moment and recall a much more important event that occurred in the spring so many years ago.

Let us reflect upon the passion of Christ as seen through the eyes of our ancestors. Image how they felt as they attended church services, knowing that their lives could be taken at any moment. Realizing that God's sacrifice was for all the world forever and a day and that man could never fathom God's love for the world to offer His only begotten Son, let us think in unison on the following. Can we doubt that the parsons did not teach a lesson on the sacrifices of Christ for men to be free of sin and compared the soldiers' sacrifices for the cause in which they believed to be Christ-like in nature? Let us review from the King James Version of the Bible. Taken from Matthew Chapter 26 through 28 (and in alignment with the other gospels), let us ponder upon the love of God. In the garden, Christ prayed to His Father as beads of blood fell to the ground as He asked that this cup be taken from Him. But He always stated, 'Thy will be done" and He accepted that will with total resolve, as Judas betrayed Him with a kiss and the guards laid their hands on Him. The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John paint a grizzly picture of the evilness and depravity of man. He was spit upon, slapped, cursed, ridiculed, denied, beaten with a cat of nine tails, a crown of thorns pierced his forehead, stripped of all his clothing (men cast lots for His garments), mocked by being given a robe of purple, nails driven into his hands and feet, and impaled upon a cross. The torture continued. He was hung between heaven and earth and was given vinegar mingled with gall to drink while being mocked. They "reviled him, wagged their heads" and defied Him to come down from the cross. His side was pierced by a lance to ensure His death. But through all of His sufferings, He clung to His faith. For He knew His mission. Yes, His flesh was battered and torn. Yes, He knew of pain that few of us can comprehend. Yes, His body ached and He had desires of the flesh when He stated, "I Thirst". And Jesus even cried out saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" That was His human side.

But the God within Him asked His Father to "Forgive them for they know not what they do". He offered a thief everlasting glory and said on "this day you will be with me in paradise". He gave a commandment to John and His mother say, "Woman behold thy son, Son behold thy mother', so that we would remember that we are our brother's keeper. And His last words of faith and commitment opened the doors of heaven for those who will keep the faith, "It is finished, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." Mission Accomplished! The blue light was shining bright on that darkened day! Because of His determination to carry out the will of His Father, His dignity during death though they tried to humiliate Him, yet He stayed the course (all He had to do is call a 10,000 angels and they would have been sent) a centurion fell to his knees in fear and said, "Truly this was the Son of God." During his greatest "trial", He won the ultimate Victory. Our ancestors believed this wholeheartedly. And I believe that they accepted the Bible as the infallible word of God. In my mind's eye I can see our ancestors walking down the earthen isle with tears running down their eyes accepting the free gift of salvation and many of them resolved that if they must die, they would do so in a Christ like manner. For a cause with God, Country, Honor, Duty and their Creed being their banner. Millions have done so in the past, millions will continue to do so in the future. Our ancestors had to suffer atrocities willingly and we have placed them as heroes of the cause. But should we not also remember THEIR hero? General Jackson would quickly tell you of the God he served and worshipped. So would JEB. Yes we have heroes of the South but all of the South has one hero that they worship. His name is Jesus Christ. I think General Lee said it best when he stated, "I am nothing more that a poor sinner trusting in Christ alone for my salvation. "Let us resolve to be more Christ like, denying ourselves and following Him. I guarantee you that THEN we will be walking the path of our ancestors and that others will be more willing to follow.