Army Brig. Gen. Douglas E. Lee was the perfect guest speaker for Marco Island’s Community Prayer Breakfast. On Tuesday, he addressed the island’s largest interfaith event attended by 515 people at the Marco Marriott Resort & Spa.

(Editor’s Note: Doug Lee is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and currently serves as the Endorsing Agent for the Presbyterian Joint Commission on Chaplains.)

After 31 years of active duty, the retired Lee used his experience as a chaplain to distill views on military service and religious tolerance.

Lee grew up believing that serving his country would be the high point in his career. Disappointment derailed that dream when a back ailment eliminated him from being drafted to serve in Vietnam.

The hope of military success took back seat, and Lee followed another calling into the service of God. He earned a divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary expecting to spend his life ministering in civilian attire, but it wasn’t to be.

A friend told Lee about the Army National Guard. It was then Lee realized he could serve his country and his God in the same lifetime as an army chaplain.

Lee rose through the ranks becoming one of only 200 clergymen recognized as endorsers of service chaplains. In that position Lee was given the authority to grant permission for other clergy in his faith to serve as chaplains.

From his view, Lee saw the United States endowed with rights grounded in the U.S. Constitution and particularly though the First Amendment.

“It’s a fragile thing, this democracy in which we live,” Lee said. “The First Amendment was very critical to our Founding Fathers.”

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