Memorial Day

As I have written before, we try to remember holidays for what they comemmerate, not just take the day off and BBQ. In the case of Memorial Day, we started a tradition many years ago to go to the local cemetary, look for graves with flags but no flowers, and put our own flowers there and pray for the families of the fallen. We also thank God for those who have given their lives so we are free to do such things...free to be who we are and pursue the life God intended for us to live (which is hard to do when you are not free.)

The Sunday before in church, the pastor told a great story of a modern day soldier who fell on a grenade to save his comrades' lives. He didn't have to-but he knew where he was going and wasn't afraid. I wonder if I have that much courage?

Two years ago I went out to the Veteran's cemetary in CA where my dad is buried. I knew they had a big Memorial Day service and my brother and I wanted to go. It was very moving, and it turns out, the biggest in the country that year! Thousands of flags were in the ground, great music and a Marine Helicopter flyover. To top it off, the main speaker was a submarine officer, just like Dad. He would have been proud. I thought of him, buried in his WWII Navy uniform. He would be so glad we were there that day.

Here is a poem from the program:

"Remember Us" by William Dunbar

Memorial Day is a day of tears
For us who died over all the years
We fought in wars to keep you free
Now we lay in graves for you to see
The tears you shed are tears of pride
For every soldier fighting side by side
Alive or dead we proved our worth
In the closest thing to hell on earth
We were different one and all
But in times of need we heard the call
Brothers all for country's sake
We may bend but never break
So remember us and say a prayer
For all the soldiers everywhere
For those of us who got the call
Please pray that God will bless us all

....and as in the other holidays I have mentioned, the link to our Christian heritage is unmistakable. When a Veteran is buried, the family can choose the symbol for the headstone-there are dozens to choose from: crosses of different types,also symbols for Jewish,Islamic,Mormon-even Atheist! (It is the old symbol of the atom.) As I walked the cemetary afterwards to see my parent's grave, I looked at the other headstones as I walked. I passed hundreds of them, on my way to the grave and then back to my car. Easily 99% had the Cross.

We know quite a few people in the Armed Forces now. And we do pray for them. And most of them look to the Cross-that symbol of hope...and eternal life.