Honoring The Fallen


 

Memorial Day. To some, it's just another Monday. To many, it's part of a coveted three-day weekend. 

To anyone who has loved and lost one of our great servicemen or servicewomen, Memorial Day is a time of remembrance. 

Etiquette dictates that on Armed Forces Day (earlier this month), we honor those currently serving. In November, on Veteran's Day, we honor and remember our U.S. Military Veterans. Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who never made it out of their uniform. The reason it is important to differentiate these holidays is that they each honor a separate category of a big family. 

Since the late 1700's, when we declared our independence from tyranny, our country has lost countless men, and women, in the ongoing battle for freedom. Theirs is no small sacrifice. The Book of John said it best, "greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." There is a great love for God, country, and the people closest to them, in each and every armed forces member who has laid down their life fighting to save ours. And it is a love that emulates the One who laid down His life to grant us the ultimate freedom: freedom from sin and eternal death. 

The gratitude that I feel when I ponder what our fallen military (and active duty, and veterans) have sacrificed for our country is overwhelming. I could never put into words the depth to which I am thankful to live in this free republic. As the granddaughter, daughter in law, and wife to some very special veterans, I feel I have a very small glimpse of the very real sacrifices the men and women of our armed forces (and their families) have made. I say small because I was never connected to any of my veterans while they were actively serving, and by the grace of God none of my veterans lost their life on the battlefield. I cannot fathom the pain a family goes through when their military member does not make it back home from serving. 

So, today, I encourage you to take time to remember. Remember our forefathers who fought tyrannical red coats to establish our country. Remember our fallen from our tragic Civil War. Remember those who died during the World Wars, the Korean War, Vietnam, Bay of Pigs, Gulf War, War on Terror, and all the smaller less known conflicts. Say a prayer for those they left behind. Listen to the somber sound of a lone trumpet playing, "Taps." Don't wallow in grief, then the enemy wins and their sacrifice was in vain. But also do not let the day go by without finding a way to honor those who never made it home.



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