"Thank you so much for giving me the chance to say goodbye and thank you to the church. I will love and miss you. See for Thanksgiving.

I never thought I would be up here, facing my friends and family of the church community, and be presenting a "farewell" speech as I leave to go off to college. But don't think that my presence up here today is going to be about me addressing my farewell to you all. And I'm certainly not here to say "goodbye, I'll see you in 4 years once I get out of college." Saying goodbye is never easy and it doesn't bring much happiness or cheer to anyone when we end a conversation. Goodbyes are sad sometimes, especially when it's a church member who has to say goodbye. So to start off, let me say "I'll leaving, but I will be back!" or as my generation would say
"g2g, brb." That's text talk for "got to go, be right back."

To start off, I'm starting with the end and then I'll work my way to the beginning. The end of my little tale I'd like to tell you is my experience here in this church to this very point. At this moment, let us consider this the end of my tale. We conclude the story with me presenting a simple farewell to my community with a couple of moments of remembrance of the past. But by looking at the big picture, I see multiple people, all of whom have touched my life in this church, smiling at me as I say thank you to all of them. I say thank you to them because each and every one of them have influenced my life to become who I am today. In fact if it wasn't for each one of you, I probably wouldn't have the courage to come up here to thank you all. Everyone has been so kind, so friendly, and so loving, that it's hard to say a goodbye. So, instead as parting, I would say thank you for everything.

Now we're gonna go back in time. Let us journey down a trip on memory lane. Think back through the years. Think about all the Christmas services, Baptisms, Wedding, Anniversaries, Funerals, Easters, Pot Luck dinners, movie nights, Star Gazes, Harvest Fairs, Palm Sundays and Sunset services that we have had in the last two decades. The events that appear in my head when I think of those times always seem to have the same two people in it. Melinda and Maura. Every church event that happens in this community seems to have the same two people, the pastor and the community's cheerleader. Those two are always around to make sure everyone has a good time. And we all do have very good memories of our time together.

In fact, every single memory that I can think of that took place in our community has always been a good one. I cannot think of a single moment when I was ever been sad, upset, or unhappy in this church. And I don't ever recall someone coming in here upset, or angry. And I wondered why. Why is it that we always have a good time together? I have been to many other churches before with friends, and I never have as much fun as I do here as
I do anywhere else. And I wonder why is that? Even when we come here to pray for loved ones who are sick, injured or in need of guidance, those are not sad moments to me. Or even when Lynn Redgrave's funeral took place right here in our church, I was not sad. I was crying the entire time, but I was never sad. Emotional, I was emotional. But I was filled with good emotions. And I could feel that everyone else didn't feel sad ever. Why is that? Why do I feel good coming here and being with my church community?

I could only think of this answer: We are a family. Not in blood, but in faith. We all come here for the same purpose, we want to feel God's love and be loved by others. We come here for support, for guidance, and protection. We come here because this is our home and we are the family that live in it. Our family may vary in race and age, but we are a big family with strong hearts for each other.

It's funny, I never really thought about what holds me to this church until I have to leave it for awhile. I've learned many things here among my church family since I came here 14 years ago. And now, as I'm going out into the world of adulthood, I will pass what I have learned here and share it with others on my journey. And although I may be far away, coming back every once in awhile, I'm happy to know that my family will always be here. And I will do the same for them. Because after all that's what family is for.
Thank you again, and I hope to see you all again soon with those same bright smiles that I will always remember."

Brent Kallstrom's speech - Field of Flags Opening Ceremony, 
August 15, 2010
A good afternoon, everyone, distinguished guests, visitors, residents of Kent,
What a patriotic tribute to honor the brave soldiers of our nation who gave their all in Iraq and Afghanistan. These 5,631 American citizens stood up, raised their hands, and took an oath to protect and serve this nation. Not 5,631 collectively as we see here today but individuals each with their own story. When their silent tribute was placed here, together in the dress right dress rows, the magnitude of their sacrifice both individually and collectively combined brings forth the reality of what is happening here. The image of the flags conjures emotions of sadness and sorrow, pride, honor, the courage of their sacrifice - that lump in your throat is the product of those emotions. Pride. Proud to be Americans, proud to be associated with these fine patriots. American soldiers, citizens that made the ultimate sacrifice, voluntarily. Some from small towns like ours. Why they joined I am sure was each individuals' free choice. The ability to choose in the first place was the product of our country's free democracy.
That Democracy is a living thing. It lives in the body and spirit of all of us. Our nation's rights and duties are yours and mine. These soldiers took an active part in our democracy to help maintain a society of people who govern themselves through their chosen representatives. What are you willing to do to get and keep the kind of world you want? Are you keeping the high purpose of liberty in mind? Think of us as a nation when you think of them, their part, their sacrifice, those before them and those who choose to lead or follow in our pursuit of liberty and the American way of life.
These soldiers' citizens realized that democracy is in constant need of protection and improvement. That the liberties, the duties, the rights we all enjoy are not perfect and may never be perfect. Think of Perfection as a path not a destination. What we do and how we get there is up to us Americans. The process is liberty in motion.
Thank you everyone and God Bless America