Eglin celebrates blessings at base national prayer breakfast

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The annual tradition of observing America's morning of prayer was celebrated with a reflection on the country's blessings led by Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) David Cyr March 25.

As the Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains, he shares half the service-wide tour of installation prayer breakfasts and expressed the honor of Eglin being number 25 on the list.

While he joked saying a beer label must have been named after Samuel Adams for his innovative idea of introducing prayer as the start of congressional meetings, Chaplain Cyr was serious about the nation's continuing need for divine intervention since its' forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence.

"We stand on their shoulders," he said about the military's relationship to the persons who served before them. "They ask us to be faithful. It's our time on the watch, our time at the plate."

Chaplain Cyr described service members as the "watchmen on the walls of world freedom." He lauded the "give until it hurts" attitude the nation has and used the recent outreach to Haiti as an example of military showing up because it was the "right thing to do."

"That is a powerful picture of America," said Chaplain (Capt.) John Muth from Eglin's chapel who organized the event. "It is a privilege that God has blessed America to where we are in the position to look out for the welfare of the whole world."

According to one Airman in attendance, the speech taught him to be hopeful and have an outlook on life that is not really about him, echoing the core competency of service before self.

"Be a life of service," said Airman 1st Class Stephen Goetz, who seeks ways to serve while working as a 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic management apprentice. "My favorite quote is about being third; God is first and people are second."

Chaplains are no different than many in today's military when it comes to deployment rates. Chaplain Cyr even noted that the unique part this year's breakfast was the fact that America completed another year at war, fighting in two areas of the world.

"What military chaplains do goes back to the First Amendment rights," he said. "We are involved in protecting and providing that right to worship freely. It's important for commanders to make that opportunity and more important than that, it's important that people of faith be strengthened in that faith."

This is what was described as "spiritual care," something base chapels provide no matter what faith a person is associated with.

"Regardless of location, it's challenging to be in the military today," said Chaplain Cyr. "We are so busy, demand is great and ops tempo is high. Prayer is critically important to help Airmen and families cope with stress. They perform a mission so vital to everything we have as a nation. Daily they renew that commitment to protect the freedoms we know and respect as Americans."

For this reason, the chaplain said America has been prosperous; because they have received much blessing, they also bless others.

"This year I want to let Airmen know god is in their corner and they are appreciated," Chaplain Cyr said about the breakfast being an opportunity to remind the military community how important they are. "Team Eglin has risen to the challenge. God is in their corner and so am I. I know they'll be successful."