I remember and honor the Fallen, for they gave their life's blood to protect and preserve our freedom.
I remember and honor the Families, who have raised up the men and women who have served their country.
I remember and honor the Veterans, for they stand as Ebenezers and remind us of the vast debt we owe to our men and women in uniform.
I remember and honor those currently Serving, for they are our strength and shield, our best and bravest.
The stern and solemn lyrics from little-known stanzas of two of America's favorite hymns come to mind. First, from "America, the Beautiful"
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
"Till selfish gain no longer stain/The banner of the free!"
America, much though I love her, has the terrible fault of selfishness running like a canyon through our national character. Thank God for the men and women who have refused to succumb to it and instead have stepped forward with resolve in their heats and said, "Behold, here am I. Send me."
I pray that God's grace will turn our hearts away from our selfishness so that we may be worthy of the sacrifice our military makes.
The second hymn is the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," our national hymn:
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.
Godly freedom. Freedom to choose, freedom to act, freedom to speak, freedom to worship, freedom to work, freedom to own property.
It used to be that the freedom we had, we exercised in self-restraint, self-control, and self-discipline - now I wonder if those qualities exist outside the military. We have become a lazy, selfish, conceited culture, a gathering of jaded dilettantes and spectators at the Coliseum games.Yet we still manage to produce men and women of character and integrity who step forward to defend and protect us and who are willing to offer their lives in service to their country and its citizens.
So, for this Memorial Day, I ask you to join with me and take a sober look at yourself. We must see what our mirrors truly reflect and meditate on whether we do merit the willing service of the men and women of our armed forces.
I don't think I do.
But, I think I'm going to try from now on.
Thank you, veterans. Thank you, active duty service personnel!
And thank you to the families of those who have laid down their lives for the cause of freedom. I will not forget, and I will train up my child to honor and respect those who are America's heroes.
