Dear Family and Friends, It is with mixed emotions that I prepare to depart the position of Pentagon Chaplain. After over two and a half years I have walked these powerful halls and sponsored numerous Prayer Breakfasts, Days of Prayer, National Prayer Breakfasts and provided for celebrations of other major faith groups. It was an honor and a privilege to attend religious events held by Islamic, Jewish, Native American and various other groups. I will never forget how we all worked together in peace and friendship supporting the right to worship for everyone. It has been my privilege to meet some of the most spiritual people on this earth. People who love God with all their hearts and serve Him with complete and total commitment. Some of these special people have become dear friends and have added to the spiritual enrichment of my life and I want to publically thank them. Men and women like; Sarah Sumner, Becky Durben, Gary Chapman, Janis Backing, Ray Pritchard, LTG (Ret) Jerry Boykin, Steve Wohlberg, Steve Darmody, Selah, the newsboys, Natalie Grant, Ravi Zachariah, Chuck Swindall, and the many senior civilians and general officers who are faithful followers of Christ in their personal and professional lives. Each one of them and each one of you have impacted my life and we have touched each other with love and friendship that will last into eternity. Thank you for your support, your concern, your caring and your love and friendship, we deeply appreciate it. I will depart the Pentagon on 30 Jan 09 and report to Ft Belvoir, VA to the Warrior Transition Unit, the old medical hold company, and take some much needed time to heal before I am medically retired from the Army after almost 40 years of active and reserve time. To be open with each of you, I have 2 herniated disks in my back and spinal stenosis in my low back. This causes me much pain as I walk the halls of the Pentagon, which has 17 miles of hallways. The pain and condition has worsened with all the walking involved here with prayer breakfasts, invocations, benedictions, special events and on and on. It finally progressed to the point that I could not walk without limping after short distances. I will be getting various treatments for my back from shots to burning the nerves with radio frequency waves, much like microwaves. Sounds like fun doesn't it!! My treatments will also involve my PTSD and Depression which was discovered after some concerning physical maladies that involved my heart, blood pressure, shaking and sweating which I could not control. I was tired all the time and felt as though I was walking under a dark cloud with a heavy load. Why I didn't think I had depression is amazing. My PTSD has plagued me for years and I should have taken care of it before my body rebelled. This has been a private war that I have fought in my inner most parts since Viet Nam and have not exposed myself to very many people, having trust and relationship issues about it. My care now involves some medications to help stabilize my mental process and some counseling sessions weekly to allow me to open up and process 40 years of guilt, shame and blame which made me truly believe that I was unworthy of any good things in life. I tell you this reluctantly but honestly because we are great in number and will grow daily as we send our sons and daughters off to fight for freedom and peace. This is a troubled world and we know from God's word that this is what the end of time looks like. However, I have a beautiful peace in my life now that comes directly from the absolute love and grace of my Father, His Son and His Spirit which minister to me daily. Through a complete surrender to God's will I see Him leading me in amazing ways, ways that I know for sure that He is in charge and not me. My attempts to be in charge have placed me where I am today, but that too is God's will, that the trials now will build the character that will later result in the image of God in my life. That is my life goal and joy. My dear and lovely wife, Alexa has been by my side for 40 years and she has been the anchor in my heart. She is always supporting, loving, caring and coaching me to heal my body, mind and spirit. I could not have made this journey without her. She is the love of my life, my best friend, my lover and my true companion. We will get thru all this and are praying about where God wants us to retire. I know He has a plan and I am excited to follow it. We will celebrate our time in service to our country on 21 Jan 09 at 1500 in the Pentagon Chapel. Attached is the bulletin for the event. I know the majority of you cannot attend but I want you to know that I will still see you there in the eye of my heart. I will be at this email until the end of January and then you can reach me at my home email: whizbroome@yahoo.com. I look forward to keeping in touch over the years. A last prayer and invitation for those of you who are struggling with your spiritual, mental and physical identities; give your hearts and commit to service to our King, Jesus Christ and you will find the joy and peace you are searching for now. Thank you for letting me say this long good bye, I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers and I thank you for the often wild and exciting ride of my life,
God bless you, Whiz
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