One of the greatest heroes Saturday, September 29, 2007

As the sound of bugles rang throughout the countryside, the patriotic countrymen of Switzerland ran to their homes and gathered up their arms. With brief and fleeting farewells to their loved ones, they rushed to the mountain's bottom, where they would meet and prepare for what awaited them. One by one, farmers and goat herders, black smiths and store clerks arrived carrying with them nothing more than their rock-filled satchels, and the pitchforks and scythe blades they used to farm with. It wasn’t long before a small army of brave patriots had congregated. They quickly organized their ranks to the best of their abilities. Soon they would have to fight to defend their families and their freedom.

A large army of Austrians had invaded their land and were well prepared to conquer the country of Switzerland, one mountain village at a time. With their fully-armored and well-trained knights numbering over 5000, they crossed into the Switzerland Mountains.

The 1300 Swiss soldiers were greatly outnumbered. Word had spread through the men about the enormous army they were soon to face. Never did they expect such a thing to happen in their quiet, humble, little mountain homes. They were nothing more than simple, loving mountain people.

They nervously waited for the army of knights and horsemen to cross over the ridge and come into view. Their marching bands were echoing through the hills, as they walked in perfect formation, clattering their armor with each step. Sounds of the oncoming footsteps and echoing drums grew louder and louder each moment as the Austrian army drew near. The Swiss patriots, who had bravely gathered together to protect their families and homelands, grew leery and began to perspire as their hearts pumped vehemently. Men who knew nothing more than their calm country lives were trying to conquer the fear of an overwhelming force. But nervousness and fear set in. The large army of knights crossed over the ridge and portrayed their gleaming armor and swords. Men of all ranks began to fall back from the little field to the mountainside. Thoughts of defeat were everywhere among the Swiss army. All that could be thought of were their families and loved ones helplessly waiting in their homes. The Austrian army drew closer, and the Swiss patriots grew more frantic by the minute.

The army of Austrian soldiers formed an impenetrable wall. As they neared what would soon be a raging battlefield, they lowered their twenty-foot spears and called out through the ranks to prepare for battle. The humble little army of untrained Swiss soldiers were searching frantically for means of escape, or for some brave countryman to step forth and give them courage and faith.

During all the commotion, a humble patriot by the name of Arnold Von Winkelried was quietly praying to Almighty God. Noise and fear faded into the background. Thoughts of his childhood in his peaceful mountain home and images of his wife and three beautiful children flashed through his mind, as he thought of their freedom and how they would never see the peaceful, free Switzerland he had lived in and loved. It was then that an awe-inspiring revelation came to his mind. He knew what he must do to save those that he so dearly loved. Their forefathers fought to give them a free country, and he intended to keep Switzerland free.

In a matter of minutes, the Austrian army would destroy the small Swiss army. Tears came to the eyes of Von Winkelried, as he silently prayed his last prayer and viewed his country one final time.

At any moment the onslot would begin. All hope seemed to vanish in that dark crucial hour. Suddenly, the gallant Arnold Von Winkelried stepped out from their meager army. He boldly cried out, "My fellow countrymen, down in the valley yonder is a lovely little home where my wife and little children are waiting for me to come back. But they'll never see me again. For this day I shall give my life for my country. I now stand, prepared to die so that you might live.” The fearful and confused Swiss patriots looked at Von Winkelried and asked, "Our dear brother, what is it that you can do to save us now?" He screamed out, "March on my fellow patriots, and do the best you can with what you got! Follow me as I will tear down their wall and break their garrison." With all the valor and strength in his body, Arnold Von Winkelried rushed the oncoming wall of spears. He threw up his weapon and screamed with a voice that pierced the heart of every Swiss soldier and put fear into the heart of every Austrian soldier, “Make way for liberty!” He plunged into the very midst of the thickest group of piercing spears and pulled them into his bosom, as final thoughts about the freedom of his family and countrymen ran through his mind. Every one of the Swiss soldiers followed in the footsteps of their brave and inspiring countryman. With their newly-found courage and unknown force of strength, they swarmed in behind Von Winkelried into the now breeched wall of confused and dismayed Austrian knights. They broke the ranks of their enemies. The battle raged, and the once unstoppable Austrians began to flee from the bloody field, as the small army of Switzerland patriots fearlessly fought the alien army out of their country.

Thirteen-hundred farmers and herders of the Switzerland countryside gained the courage and faith they saw displayed in Von Winkelried, and fought with more valor and strength than that of 5000 trained knights. That day in 1346, at the Battle of Seymond, the patriots of Switzerland killed more than two-thousand Austrian soldiers, and won a victory like was never won before. They had defeated the Austrian armies that invaded their homeland and attempted to take away their freedom. To this day, when the name of Arnold Von Winkelried is mentioned in the presence of Switzerland countrymen, tears come to their eyes, as they give honor and thanks to the man that gave his life so that they might be free.

And today you can mention his name in Switzerland, and their eyes will color with tears, and their cheeks will flush for their hero. That was one of the greatest heroes to my opinion, that's been in army life. But that's just a minor thing, just a minor thing. One day the sons of Adam was standing defeated; law, prophets and everything had failed. Every approach we had made had totally failed. And yonder in glory there was One stepped out called the Son of God. And the Angels said, "What will You do?" He said, "I'll go down and give My life. And this day I will redeem the fallen sons of Adam." “And He came to Calvary. He went to the thickest of the spears. He went through the valley of the shadow of death and caught every dart of the devil, and pulled it into His own bosom, and called for the Church to take what you've got and do the best you can.”

"AZUSA JUBILEE 56-0916"