Remembering The Fallen Of America

For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends. – John 15:13 

The official Memorial Day is May 30th not today but since it falls on the newly adopted Monday holiday calendar I chose to write about the war dead on this day. Memorial Day is often used by everyone for remembering their family members who have passed on to eternity but the real purpose of this day was to remember those who gave their lives defending this nation. Arlington National Cemetery as well as other national cemeteries and even public cemeteries have ceremonies to reflect upon what this day means. 

The men and women of the Armed Forces when they commit to serving after taking the oath to defend this country against all enemies both foreign and domestic never know if they will lose their life ever in peacetime operations or combat. You as a soldier, sailor, airmen, or Marine don’t really think about it. I know I did not but I as a female could have in fact been placed in situations where I could have lost my life serving my country. 

Even though as a nation often this day is a blur unless you intentionally set aside the time to observe it pause and think about those immense sacrifices made in peace and war time by Americans  who paid the ultimate price with their lives. If you have small children or grandchildren around on this day take them to the local cemetery to show them graves of the fallen soldiers. As a veteran, all are entitled to burial in a national cemetery if they choose even though maybe not dying in combat but as you reflect think about WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and many other conflicts and thank the Lord for the freedom you enjoy because of these brave patriots. 

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for the gift of freedom. Many nations are in bondage to tyrants, dictators, and those who do not allow freedom to worship you. I praise God for the gift of a Bible and this freedom on account of those who stood and some died defending this.  I pray for those on active duty now to stay safe. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

NOTE from Americas Library.Gov on the first Memorial Day:

The First Official Memorial Day
May 30, 1868 
 In 1868, Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the grand Army of the Republic issued what was called General Order Number 11, designating May 30 as a memorial day. He declared it to be "for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.

The first national celebration of Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day) took place May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery.