Today begins "Memorial Day Weekend", although the official holiday is on Monday, May 26th. It's the day we remember and honor our fellow countrymen and women who have died in the service of our nation. The Bible is full of stories of such warriors ... Samson, David, and Joshua are memorialized as valiant protectors of their people. And from Isaac Davis, the first officer to be killed in the American Revolutionary War, to Nathan Chapman, the first American soldier to be killed in combat in the war in Afghanistan, this nation has seen no shortage of men and women who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the ideals this country stands for.
Yes, we all like to hang flags [and wave them] on this day, but let's not let the celebration with BBQ and beer exceed the spirit of this solemn day of commemoration. Don't just hang a flag outside your door. Tell your children and grandchildren WHY you are making that statement. And then make sure they know the cost of their freedoms. From 4,435 casualties in the American Revolution, to the 405,399 casualties in World War II, to the 7,064 casualties in the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and against Isis (as recorded since May, 2024). The numbers don't lie... a huge price in human lives has been paid.
Have these all been "righteous" wars? ... I think we all know the answer to that. Politics, power, and money have all played a part in our nation's conflicts. But, today, my goal is to recognize and commemorate the memories of those who fought for the right reasons. This is about every person who has laid down his or her life for the rest of us. This holiday is about what America stands for [at it's undefiled core], and those who fought to preserve that ideal. It's my hope that we can recapture the spirit of what America symbolizes.
Neither I, nor my husband, Mark, have lost family members; although we have veterans in our lineage. But that doesn't mean Memorial Day is not personal to us. For me, it centers around the day I made the decision, at the age of 16, to wear an MIA bracelet for Captain John Charles Hardy, USAF, who was shot down over North Vietnam in 1968. I wore that bracelet all through high school and into college, even though I developed a rash from the metal the bracelet was made of. I just couldn't take it off until I knew if he came home. Finally, when the war was ended, there was no answer and so I eventually took the bracelet off, hoping my answer would come in the near future. But it wasn't until 2001 that I discovered there was a website where you could find out the status of MIA/POW military personnel from that war.
Throughout the years, I had prayed for him, hoping he made it home. As I sat at the computer, my heart racing, I was devastated to discover that he died in the jungles of that far-off country; North Vietnam, Nz Province, to be exact. I'm not ashamed to say that I cried uncontrollably for all the years I had hoped for a different outcome, and for his family who had suffered such a great loss. I never knew him, but he was more than a name on a silver bracelet. I now had a picture of him, which made him seem even more real.
In 2004, Mark and I were in D.C. and visited The Wall, and the impact of that long black marble wall with all those names on it was overwhelming. I have a pencil rub of Capt. Hardy's name that I keep in my Bible that my grandmother gave me, and I will honor his memory for the rest of my life. Thank you, Capt. Hardy for your sacrifice. God bless you!
In the ensuing years, I've never lost the importance of recognizing the value of every life sacrificed for my country. And I'd like to ask you to reflect upon the following quotes as you celebrate this weekend ... "The brave never die, though they sleep in dust: Their courage serves a thousand living men." - Minot J. Savage (Pastor and Author, 1918); "Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it." - Unknown; "This nation will remain the land of the free only as long as it is home of the brave." - Elmer David, Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II.
So, I want to leave you with this: think upon the principles that motivated our citizens [since this country began] to pick up a gun and fight for freedom, both here and abroad. Memorial Day represents those who died protecting the values of John 14:13 ... No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. The memories of our Fallen Heroes deserve to be recognized. Monday is not about hotdogs, hamburgers, and family gatherings. It's about restoring respect for the sacrifices made for you and me. Let each of us do our part in restoring the true meaning of Memorial Day. Dedicate one moment out of the day to give thanks to a veteran who made that ultimate sacrifice. We owe them that ... and so much more. I dedicate this post to:
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