Lesson 129: THE BUTTONS

Kentucky Chaplain David Chaltas

So many good people have blessed me on so many occasions and I feel so full of life when I reflect upon those times. One in particular caught my attention, and I wish to share it with you. I remember being invited to South Carolina for a presentation during a reenactment and also living history on education days. It was a long drive, and I was tired. I pulled into the parking area, put on my jacket, and wearily went to sign in. A young man of approximately ten years of age saw me, recognized the ole red jeep with the words ‘General Lee’ on the front plates, turned and ran towards the encampment. I heard him exclaim, “He’s here!” in an excited voice. I figured that I was going to be asked to inspect the troops of say a few words to those men that were present. To my surprise, they issued the order to fall in and every man available fell into line. One of the main people over the event came to me, introduced himself and said that the boys had been waiting on me. I honestly did not think I would even be noticed much less have the honor of addressing the troops before we even started the events of the weekend.

The colonel of the battalion issued an order to come to attention and every man snapped into place perfectly. The colonel then presented himself to me and stated, “General, it is such an honor to have you with us. May we offer you a fitting tribute?” Before I could think of an answer, he had each man right face, forward march in line behind him. With tears streaming down his eyes he pulled out a period knife and cut the top button from his jacket and presented it to me without saying a word. Each man in turn followed suit and offered me the button that kept them warm in the winter, blocked the snow and rain and shielded their necks from the sun. By the time they had finished their silent salute, I had a pocket of buttons and an eyeful of tears. For I realized that they were not saluting me but the Man I represented and the God that he stood for. What a legacy! For a few moments my voice quivered and was filled with such an emotion that I could not speak and when I could only offered a word of thanks for honoring a man that followed in Christ footsteps so long ago.

I was reminded of the time when General Lee visited the southland in 1870. The trip was an effort by the doctors in restoring his health. All along the route of his visit word preceded him and he was greeted with cheers and great jubilation, as the hero of their dreams walked with them once more. But in a place in Florida, the scene was much different. As Lee stepped out from his quarters and walked to rail of the ship facing the crowd, an eerie silence saturated the scene. Men stood in silence reverence with their hats in their hands. Women held up their babies and shed tears of gratitude. Children stared in awe of the man before them, as Lee along with his daughter wiped the tears from their eyes. Regaining the moment, the crowd surged forward, almost capsizing the boat. All longed to hear him speak. All longed to touch his garments. All longed to share the love they possessed for the living legend. Such is the legacy of a good Christian.

Lee’s last visit to his beloved southland strikes a cord within my heart about the second coming of Christ. Though I cannot fathom the emotions of that day nor do I dare compare Lee to Christ, I feel that upon Christ’s arrival, there will be great joy amongst his followers that will overwhelm all. I find myself thinking that I could not even look Him in the face but would love to simply brush off His sandals. Just to touch the hem of his garments would be so overwhelming. But I would dare not do so. I would be satisfied to be in that number and sense the presence of our Living God forever and a day. The only way of obtaining such blessed assurance is to lean upon those everlasting arms and embrace Christ as you would a hero coming home. For Christ is the hero of heroes. Buttons, buttons, who’s got the buttons, you ask? Oh, you want to know what have I done with the buttons?! Well, at dedications and memorial services, I offer them to those men that rest in the sacred soil by placing them in the ground next to the headstone. In this manner I not only honor the men that gave them to me, but I also pass that honor on to the men that wore the gray during the turbulent times when brother fought brother. I think our gracious God distributes them to those men in a special ceremony in heaven. I remain your obedient servant, The Old General