Vance celebrates Commander’s National Prayer Breakfast

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  More than 125 attended the Commander's National Prayer Breakfast Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the Vance Collocated Club. Vance's wing chaplain, Chaplain (Maj.) Donald Bretz, was the keynote speaker.

The breakfast, which was rescheduled from Jan. 28 due to a winter storm, began with the presentation of colors by the Silver Talon Honor Guard, followed by an a cappella rendition of the national anthem, sang by Martha Harris, Jean Null, Regina York and Randy Coleman.

Staff Sgt. Jon Carpenter from the base chapel presented an invocation before attendees went through the buffet lines.

After the meal, scripture was read. Airman 1st Class Jamal Perry read from the Quran, chapter 3, verses 133-134. Second Lt. Jonathan Goldstein read from Hebrew scriptures, 2 Chronicles 20:14-15, first in Hebrew and then in English. Rev. Kevin Ratterman, from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Enid, Okla., read 2 Corinthians 1:10-12.

Howard Deunk, the chapel head usher, member of the Parish Advisory Council and T-1 simulator operator here, delivered a prayer for the nation, followed by Chaplain Bretz's address, "Spiritually fit to fight."

Chaplain Bretz took his theme from Ecclesiastes 3, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Drawing examples from his past, Chaplain Bretz spoke of the car accident that took his father's life but spared him and his mother.

While deployed to the Green Zone in Baghdad, he wondered why one vehicle would get hit by an explosion and another would not.

"One day, a soldier's quarters were hit, but the soldier was not hurt because he was in the BX," said Chaplain Bretz. "But another day, the BX was hit and a soldier was killed on his last day before coming home.

"A time to be born and a time to die," he quoted from Ecclesiastes 3. "And there is a time to pray," he said.

"If we're going to be fit to fight spiritually then we need to pray," Chaplain Bretz said. "When you take time to meditate and pray, you are sharpening your spiritual sword. When you don't, you leave the sword in its sheath, allowing it to rust."

Chaplain Bretz ended his presentation by playing the Air Force hymn on a trumpet that was once used by an Army Air Corps mechanic during World War II to play taps.

Col. Chris Nowland, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander, told Chaplain Bretz that Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil Richardson, the Air Force chief of chaplains, would be proud of his message. Chaplain Richardson was originally scheduled to speak at the prayer breakfast before it was postponed by weather.

Colonel Nowland left the attendees with a thought from his time working with Marine Gen. Peter Pace, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"Hanging on the wall behind General Pace's desk was a famous lithograph of Gen. George Washington, holding a white horse and kneeling in the snow, praying," said Colonel Nowland.

"That lithograph said a great deal to me about leadership," he said. "I realized as a leader, I need help, spiritual help. Take time daily to connect. It will make you a better leader," Colonel Nowland concluded.

The prayer breakfast ended with a prayer by Chaplain (Capt.) Randy Sellers, and the traditional group singing of the Air Force Song.