Emily Jazmin Tatum Perez

West Point, 2005

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Claus Pollem on July 4, 2007:

Today is Independence Day. A day of joy and a day of remembrance. For me, Emily is not a 'memory'. She is still very much present as a 'Living Letter' of the Lord to all of us. This is why there is and always will be a very special love for her and her family in my heart. When I was a Police Officer in Heidelberg, Germany, Emily's place of birth, we might have met - not noticing. But you, all her loved ones, and of course Emily were included in our prayers when Bible believing German Police Officers met in their monthly Police Officers for Christ- meetings in Mannheim: We prayed regularly for all US servicemen and the US installations. We specifically included the wonderful families in the town, the PHV, 7th Gen. Hospital etc. Much joy and blessing, I believe came from that. When you sometimes wonder if such rather 'general' prayers are answered, be comforted: Emily's walk with the LORD is a living witness to the fact, that these prayers are answered. God sent a loving hero to tell of His love and goodness. Among all the sadness over the loss of our Sister in Christ: how wonderful is this and how much does it remind us to stay focused on running the good race for JESUS. When I am alive today it is because US soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and servicemen of the merchant marine took it upon themselves to liberate Europe from tyranny. I salute everyone of them. And I salute their families who made the sacrifice to send them. Emily and her fellow servicemen accomplished (and presently accomplish) no less a victory. May the LORD give good success to the efforts of the coalition and to NATO efforts to support bringing peace, freedom and prosperity to the oppressed. Let us not forget the many silent cries of the freedom seeking peoples in the world. Beloved Emily will be in the hearts of all Heidelbergers who knew her until the end of time, when we will meet again at the feet of our LORD. Freedom is not free: Let us be thankful. I try to live it every day, just like Emily: today I'm a Director on Wall Street. As part of NATO ops I served as a fellow Officer in the Bundeswehr together with US soldiers in 2001, proud to contribute to the same cause as Emily, our hero. May the LORD richly bless you who loved her, prayed for her and stood with her. May we all be diligent to bless in word and deed until the coming of our Lord Jesus. Claus. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world: Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have noy run in vain, neither labored in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me." God's word, the Bible, Philippians, chapter 2, verses 12 to 18.

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