Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our fallen soldiers. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. This day of remembrance has been expanded to include all of the soldiers who have died on various battlefields of different wars and conflicts as they gave their lives for the freedom that we enjoy. I encourage you today to never forget those brave men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

It is always a special blessing to make a concerted effort to remember the sacrifice of  men and women who paid the ultimate price so that we could enjoy the privilege and freedom of religion. The citizens of America need to realize that this privilege did not come at a cheap and easy price. Individuals of various races, various ethnicities, various nationalities, various social and financial positions gave their lives that we could enjoy our freedoms in America today as well as every day. I don’t know about you but I think these great Americans are due “double honor” for the sacrifice they made.   Let us also pause to remember those men and women who returned from the battlefields maimed, paralyzed as well as injured (both physically as well as emotionally). These men and women as well as their care-givers deserve not to be forgotten!!! We also need to remember the families of these fallen soldiers; each of them also paid a high price as they said good-bye to a loved one who died in the service of their country.

We also need to take time and remember those veterans who are present among us today. I am both honored and privileged to recognize my earthly father today. He is 88 years old and is a veteran from WWII. He will be participating in activities today that will remember the fallen; honor those who have served and celebrate those who are presently serving. Our family is thankful for Dad and his desire to serve his country as well as his continued desire to serve his country as well as serve God in his community.  Last but not least we want to recognize those men and women who are placing themselves in harms way today so that we might enjoy the privilege to celebrate Memorial Day. We owe each of these men and women both past, present and future a sincere debt of gratitude. 

I encourage you once more to never forget those brave men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.