Salem First Christian Church on West Main Street welcomed home a special guest on Sunday, Feb. 15. In a series of slides, United States Army Reserve Col. Larry Toney shared his experiences as a chaplain and soldier during his second tour of duty in Iraq.
He has no regrets about entering into the United States Army at the age of 18, which he said he originally did in order to earn the G.I. Bill to pay for his education. The Army has introduced him to amazing people and taken him to fascinating places, he said. He told how the temperature would often reach 120 degrees in Iraq, how many often make the mistake of thinking all Iraqis are of the Muslims faith but there are a large number of devoted Christians and Jews in the country, and how Muslim Iraqis were grateful for the help of their fellow Christian Americans.
He went into war zones and helped bring supplies to women and children in the torn country. Toney showed slides of the people he came to know and love in a country many believe to be the enemy. He didn’t speak as a representative of the United States Army but as a man who wanted to share love and knowledge among his Christian fellows.
