Giving honor to God and to all who are reading this Chaplain’s Corner. To all our Men and Women serving our country and to all our Veterans: Thank you, Lord, for the new year of 2026. We have come this far by faith, not by sight, grateful to see another year. God is Good, and for all of the time God has been Good.

Trusting in His Holy words, knowing that He has never faltered, yet we still question ourselves. Like, have we accomplished our goals for 2025, or have we left them behind? Did we try to forgive the past and the people we had offended? Or did we take these things into 2026?

          The question may arise: how can I help you? I'm glad that you asked that Question. We know that we need help with our health concerns for our service connection. Why have we not taken the time to go and see about ourselves? We need to sign up and register for our health care at the VA, and for all who have signed up already, thank you. When denied, please appeal. We are thankful to God that He gave us a chance to meet each other. We are grateful for our friendships with the wives and families of the land clearers that have continued for over 5 Decades. My Spiritual insight is that our meeting was not just by Company Orders. This was by His Grace and Mercy of His Greatness. Our everlasting relationship became a Divine Intervention. The Good Lord put us all together, and I am grateful for our long-lasting relationship and friendship.

To all our Land Clearing Teams, we continue to pray for each other as we are blessed to be here on earth, despite our evolving health conditions and diminishing strength. We pray for our brothers who have served together, for they will never be forgotten. Let us continue to pray for the families of the deceased and the living. We have all become family. United we stand, Divided we fall. We pray for your safety. May your Higher Power, no matter how you perceive things, bless each one of you for your service to your country! May God’s love continue to flow with every one of you throughout your lives. 

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV-11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”          

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” I truly believe that when one serves our country, we are serving One Nation Under God.

Rev Chaplain Willie Springer MAPT
Executive Director of Northern Ohio Veterans Association (NOVA)