1st Lt. Thomas Doyle was "watchman of world freedom"
Editor´s note: The following was the memorial service sermon for 1st Lt. Tom Doyle, who died in a plane crash in March. The sermon was delivered by Chap.(Capt.)Harrell L. Cobb, Hahn protestant chaplain.
In the conclusion of his speech scheduled for Dallas in 1963, President John F. Kennedy wrote, " We, in this country, in this generatin, are by destiny rather than choice, the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility; that we excercise our strength with wisdom and restraint. And that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of peace on earth and good will toward men. That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must underlie our strength. As it was written long ago, "Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh by in vain". "
Tom Doyle was a watchman on the walls of world freedom. His walls were the sky, soaring high above the meager stone walls of the ancient fortress. Yet in his small space in the sky, he flew to protect the freedom that we all cherish so much.
The prophet, Isaiah, wrote, "They shall rise on wings as eagles." Tom´s sacrifice for peace serves as an example for all - that duty, honor and country are not some forgotten parts of patriotism - but duty, honor, and country were daily inspirations in the life of Tom Doyle. Kate Clark wrote, "That by 1918, the decline of the American hero-patriot had already begun."If that was tru, we are here to proclaim that the hero-patriot has risen again in the sacrifice of Tom Doyle. Isaiah also said, "But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. Tom Doyle´s service to his country calls us to renew our commitment to stand on the walls of freedom, to draw strength from his sacrifice, to rise on wings like eagles, defending freedom wherever it is threatened. Tom Doyle´s fight for freedom is over, but not forgotten. He is at rest with his creator. Gen. Dan Butterfield, in 1862, wanted something less harsh than lights out at the end of the day. He wanted something that would convey lights out and lying down to rest in the silence of the night. To convey this, he composed what we now know as Taps. As Taps is played on Memorial Day, it will proclaim to the world that Tom Doyle and all those who made the supreme sacrifice for their country are at rest. But it also proclaims that we stand vigilantly in their memory, as watchmen on the walls of world freedom.
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