Blessing of the badges 

Blessing of the badges 

Submitted by Pastor Henrik Lidman

The last few weeks have been hard for our community, the very places that bring beauty to our community have proven to be places of disasters.  Many different emergency departments have been involved during these dark days, endless hours of waiting and searching. These men and women all have one thing in common: they all wear a badge. 

They are not looking for recognition or fame, they are just doing their job. They have hours and hours of training, preparing for moments like this. Their passion is to help those in need.

It has been said that a community is defined by whom they honor. I think that is very true. Americans are really good at honoring their soldiers, their history  and also those who serve their community. As a foreigner, I think this is one of the things that holds America together. 

Pastor Henrik Lidman

The Memorial Day events and the Ludington Area Jaycees Freedom Festival Grand Parade on Fourth of July are good examples of that,  I also think that the Blessing of the Badges during the finale Friday Night Live in downtown Ludington has the same value. It helps us to remain thankful and it teaches us to honor the right things. 

As a community we have an opportunity to give honor where honor is due. This Blessing of the Badges, which was started in 2008 by Ludington Fire Chief Jerry Funk, takes place this Friday, Aug. 2 at 8:15 p.m. (Friday Night Live begins at 6 p.m.)

Ludington Avenue will be filled with fire trucks, police cruisers, ambulances, boats and other emergency vehicles, People from each department will be present wearing their uniforms. This is a great opportunity to get to know them in a relaxed setting. Usually when you see a person with a badge it is a more intense atmosphere.  At the end of the evening they will march up the Avenue escorted by the American Legions Honor Guard where the service will be held on the corner of James Street and Ludington Avenue.

I think that we can get three things accomplished as a community this Friday:

1. We can honor the men and women who wear a badge, whether it is a sewn on badge on a emergency medical technician’s uniform or a metal badge on a firefighter’s, police officer’s or sheriff’s deputy’s uniform, they all carry it with dignity and pride.

2 We can ask God’s blessing on the people wearing the Badges. It is a great honor  that these men and women are asking for God’s blessing and protection.

3 We can pray for our community. We have been hit hard the last few weeks, together we can lift up our community to the Lord. 

This service is timely and appropriate. It will be a good place to bring some beauty back to our community. Together we can make it a place of honor, a place to pray and a place to celebrate.

I hope to see you there. 

God bless you,

Henrik Lidman

Pastor of Prayer and Praise Assembly of God, Ludington 

Chaplain of Mason County Sheriff’s Office