Memorial Day plays at the heartstrings of our memory. It is much more than just a day off from work—it’s a day to honor the soldiers who have died in battle defending their homeland. In the LosAngeles Times, a father celebrates his first Memorial Day since losing his son in Afghanistan. “I want to remind people that when they see a veteran, they should go shake his hand or buy him a cup of coffee,” He said. “And when the national anthem is played at the ballgame, stand up and put your hand on your heart: Never forget that people have died for you and for that flag.”On NPR's Weekly Edition a veteran’s group flies surviving World War II veterans across the country to see the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. “You know, there was the ticker tapes parades that we all saw on TV, in the newsreels. You may not know, that was only for a few. Most of these guys didn’t get that kind of welcome. And they’re going to experience something today that’s a welcome that they have never experienced before.” For me personally I have long since cherished the remarks made by President Ronald Reagan at the U.S. Ranger Monument in Pointe du Hoc, France June 6, 1984, “Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there. These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war. Gentlemen, I look at you and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your "lives fought for life . . . and left the vivid air signed with your honor… Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet, you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief; it was loyalty and love…You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.”
As most of you know Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to honor the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. Today, Memorial Day is celebrated around the nation and at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave and the President lays a wreath on the grave of the Unknown Soldier.
We celebrate and we remember. The scriptures admonish us to do so. Once a year we observe Memorial Day. But for the Christ Follower, every week is a celebration of the Memorial of Christ. Jesus fought the armies of Hell so that we can be set free. For the Christian, every Sunday is a Memorial Day. On Memorial Day we Remember Lives lived. Part of emotional healing in the process of grief is to remember the life of the loved one who has passed. The Lord shared with His disciples, "This is my body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me." What do we remember about Jesus? We remember his life and teachings. But more than that, we remember His sacrificial death. We also remember his Victory over Death. We remember His resurrection. We have fellowship with a living Savior as our hearts reach out by faith. Also, on Memorial Day we Give Thanks for the Sacrifice. All the heroic acts on battlefields throughout history have made our country what it is today. We enjoy freedom and wealth that are un-equaled. But our freedom and our luxuries have come at a great price. In a similar way, Jesus gave his life to set us free from slavery of sin and death. For this we must be eternally thankful. Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Remember the definition of Memorial? “Serving to preserve remembrance”. What will you be remembered by? John Wesley said: Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” The Apostle Paul wrote, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Let us not only remember those who have served and sacrificed for us, but let us leave a lasting legacy for those who will follow in our footsteps.
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