WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

Today is Memorial Day.

A day in which we honor all those who have given their lives defending our country.

I got curious this year and wanted to learn more about this special day of commemoration.

So I googled…

This from Wikipedia:

"Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces.  The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Union war dead with flowers.  By the 20th century, competing Union and Confederate holiday traditions, celebrated on different days, had merged, and Memorial Day eventually extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service."


I further researched and found these statistics from The Department of Veterans Affairs and The Department of Defense –it's rather staggering and sobering…

Wartime U.S. Military Deaths:

Revolutionary War – 4,435
War of 1812 – 2,260
Indian Wars – 1,000
Mexican War – 13,283
Civil War – 498,332
Spanish American War – 2,446
World War I – 116,516
World War II – 405,399
Korean War – 54,246
Vietnam War – 90,220
Persian Gulf War – 1,948
Global War on Terror – 6,852

The total number of Americans killed in all U.S. wars is almost 1.2 million.  

(This does not include those who are MIA – people missing in action.  In WWII alone, this number is 30,314).

And the deadliest battle in U.S. history was the Battle of Argonne Forest during WWI – a battle that resulted in more than 26,000 deaths. 


Yes.

Overwhelming, isn't it?

For these are not just statistics, these are people, individual lives.

And each of these deaths profoundly affected countless others' lives.

The casualties of war are far-reaching and never-ending.

That's why I think it's important to take this day and remember – to really ponder the sacrifice, and really appreciate what all those lives were sacrificed for.

For they did not die in vain.

They fought for a cause, they fought for us. 


It's easy in our country to take for granted all the many freedoms that we enjoy.  

These freedoms, as outlined in Franklin D. Roosevelt's State of the Union Speech (also known as the Four Freedoms speech) given on January 6, 1941, are the following:

Freedom of speech
Freedom of worship
Freedom from want
Freedom from fear


It was a powerful speech, given in the context of World War II, just 11 months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and America's subsequent entry into the war.

For many, many decades, men and women have sacrificed their lives to ensure that our country enjoys these freedoms.

We must not forget their sacrifice…


In this past week, I have done so many things that would not have been possible if someone hadn't fought for this country – for my country – for your country.

Last week, I bowed my head and said *grace* at a restaurant – Thank you.

Last week, I drove my car, with a Jesus sticker on it – Thank you.

Last week, I read my Bible – Thank you.

Last week, I spoke to someone about my faith – Thank you.

Last week, I attended church and worshiped – Thank you.


Have you stopped lately and considered what a privilege it is to do these things?

We have the glorious freedom to worship our Lord – freely and publicly.  We are not in danger of being thrown in jail, or tortured, or killed.

And so many sacrificed so much in order for us to have that freedom.

Today I don't think it matters whether we agree or don't agree with political policy. 

Today it doesn't matter if we are *hawks* or *doves*. 

Today we simply focus on people – real people who served our country, who died for our country – because they believed in freedom.


Currently there are five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, six including the National Guard.  (Many have subdivisions such as the Navy SEALS, the Army Rangers, and the Air Force Special Operations Command).


Here's the motto of each:

United States Army: "This we'll defend"

United States Navy: Non sibi sed patriae (Latin for "Not for self but for country")

United States Air Force: "Aim high... Fly, fight, win"

United States Marine Corps: Semper fidelis (Latin for "Always faithful")

United States Coast Guard: Semper paratus (Latin for "Always ready")

National Guard of the United States: "Always ready, always there"


Let's take a moment and remember…

Those who gave their lives to defend.

Those who gave their lives, not for self but for country.

Those who aimed high – who flew, fought, and won.

Those who were always faithful.

Those who were always ready.

Those who were always there.


In their honor, if you know someone who has served, or is serving, this country in the armed forces, I would encourage you to reach out to them today.

Tell them how much you appreciate them.

Tell them we will always remember them. 

Tell them…

Thank you.


And on this Memorial Day, may we take time to remember those who gave their lives – what they fought for – what they sacrificed for – what they believed in…


One nation…under GOD.

God, the One we serve and worship…

The One who gave His Son…

The Son who died to bring freedom…

The Ultimate Sacrifice.


Thank You.



Do you know anyone who gave their life in service to our country?

How many times
must the cannonballs fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend,
is blowing
in the wind,
The answer
is blowing in the wind.


(Lyrics from "Blowing in the Wind" by Bob Dylan)


Photo taken at the The Moving Wall™
Since 1984, the traveling half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

"Never was so much owed by so many to so few." 

(From a wartime speech given by the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on August 20, 1940) 

***************************************

"'When you go out to war against your enemies, and see…an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you…And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, 'Hear…you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint.  Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.'" (Deuteronomy 20:1-4, ESV)

"The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance." (Psalm 33:10-12, NIV)

"'…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.'" 
(2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV)

"In the last days, the mountain of the LORD’s house will be the highest of all – the most important place on earth.  It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.  People from many nations will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD…There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.'  For the LORD's teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.  The LORD will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes.  They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore." 
(Isaiah 2:2-4, NLT)

"He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.  He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.  He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" (Psalm 46:9-10, NIV)

"'No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.'" (John 15:13, AMP)

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1, NIV)

"'So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'" (John 8:36, ESV)

"Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:24-25, ESV)

"…the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered.  It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever." (Daniel 2:44, NLT)

"'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.'" (Revelation 11:15, ESV)

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