Text: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love”
(1 Corinthians 13:13).
Tomorrow we celebrate Memorial Day. What does it mean to Americans?
What does it really mean to people?
To some people it is a time to get together with family and socialize and eat.
To others it is a time to watch the parade and listen to the program in honor of our military personnel living and deceased.
When I was a young lad my family always made a trip to the cemetery to place flowers on the graves of our loved ones.
I remember the times when my family and Carol’s family would reserve one of the covered pavilions at the local recreational park. Everyone would bring food to share and we would spend the entire day having a great time.
Since there were many young and older people, we would play ball, horseshoes, badminton, basketball, croquet, as well as other games. During the day there was talk about the good old days, my dad and Carol’s dad did very well in this area. The words “remember when” were heard many times during the day. I miss those days.
The stores were usually open Monday through Friday until 5:00 or 5:30 PM and Saturday until noon and closed on Sunday. People did not routinely work 2 or 3 jobs. People looked out for one another and shared with one another what they had.
People shared milk from their dairy cattle, eggs from their chickens, meat from their smoke house, vegetables from their garden, fruit from their fruit trees as well as fresh baked bread and pastries.
It is wonderful to think about the “old days.” We have things to tell our children, our grandchildren and our great grandchildren. I know that some of the things I relate to the younger ones are probably unbelievable in their minds, but one day they will also be telling their children how it used to be.
Is Memorial Day just a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of the summer season?
Is Memorial Day just a day off from work?
Is Memorial Day just another routine day?
To many people, especially the combat veterans, Memorial Day is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.
Webster’s Dictionary describes the word “MEMORIAL” as “something that keeps remembrance alive.”
The World Book Encyclopedia states that MEMORIAL DAY (or Decoration Day as it was formally called) is a patriotic day to honor American Soldiers who have given their lives for their country.
Flowers and flags are placed on graves of soldiers.
Many organizations march in military parades and take part in special programs.
In the spring of 1866, Henry C. Welles, a druggist in the village of Waterloo, NY, suggested that the patriots who had died in the Civil War should be honored by decorating their graves.
General John Murray heard about the idea of honoring Civil War veterans and thought it was a great idea. There were others who though the idea was good. People began to put flags, wreaths, crosses and flowers on the graves of those who fought and gave their lives for what they believed was right.
On May 5, 1866, the village of Waterloo, NY was decorated with flags lowered to half mast and the people of the town formed the first parade which was led by the veterans of the day. The parade ended at the town cemetery where those who had given their all out of the love of their heart were remembered and honored.
The day of remembrance was celebrated again on May 5, 1867, but was not proclaimed official until May 1868 by General John Logan. May 30 of 1868 was the first officially observed Decoration Day.
It is interesting to note that the South did not celebrate Decoration Day until after the First World War. They chose to pay tribute to their veterans on different days.
People realized that there were wars other than the Civil War in which men gave their live. There was the American Revolution, War of 1812, Indian Wars, Mexican War, and then the Civil War which was followed by the Spanish-American War.
The result of this realization promoted a change in name from Decoration Day to Memorial Day at which time soldiers from all wars would be honored. This name change took place in 1882 but was not routinely used until after World War II. It was officially named by Federal law in 1967. In 1971, Memorial Day was proclaimed a national holiday and would be celebrated the last Monday in May.
One veteran said these words, “Memorial Day is a tribute to all of America’s War Dead. It is a day of remembrance of my airborne brothers who paid the ultimate price during the Vietnam War”.
This is a day to recognize and honor all veterans who paid the sacrificial price. Many left their families to serve their country and were sent home in a flag covered coffin and many never returned. Many came back to their loved ones missing arms or legs or both. Others returned with their minds all messed up because of what they saw and what they remembered.
All of our American Soldiers paid the sacrificial price by giving some while others gave their all. They gave out of love for their family, their friends, and their country. They followed the words of Jesus when He said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).
In 1915, Moina Michael showed her remembrance by writing these words:
We cherish too, the Poppy Red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
These words let to the idea of wearing a red poppy on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who sacrificed their life so that others might live. She sold these poppies to her relatives and friends used the money to help servicemen who were in need. This practice is still in effect today.
I found this poem entitled “Lest We Forget”. I don’t know the author, but the words are beautiful. Listen to the words.
These men and women soldiers all;
They served us proud their duty call.
They gave their lives for us to be
Safe from harm and living free.
Don’t ignore peace; lest we forget
The greatest gift from each honored Vet.
Keep their spirit close in memory;
They died protecting our liberty.
Americans have fought in a number of wars and many live have been lost. I did a little research and found the following information concerning those who actually died in battle. There were many others who were hurt, maimed, or wounded, but these figures are only battle deaths.
American Revolution (1775 – 1783) 4435
War of 1812 (1812 - 1815) 2260
Indian Wars (approx. 1817 – 1898) 1000
Mexican War (1846 – 1848) 1733
Civil War (1861 – 1865) Union 140,414
Confederate 74,524
Spanish-American War (1898 – 1902) 385
World War I (1917 – 1918) 53,402
World War II (1941 – 1945) 291,557
Korean War (1950 – 1953) 33,741
Vietnam War (1964 – 1975) 47,424
Desert Storm (1990 – 1991) 147
War in Iraq (2003 – present) (at least) 4000
Is there any need to ask why we celebrate Memorial Day? I don’t think so. We need to remember these service people and honor them because they sacrificed out of love.
The American soldiers fought for what they believed in their heart was right.
They fought for the freedom that you and I enjoy.
The American soldier fought and gave up his life and his family so that you and I could live and enjoy our family.
They fought so that their children and their grandchildren could enjoy the freedom that our forefathers longed for.
War is cruel.
War is ugly.
War is costly.
Each service person knows this and each believes that freedom is worth the sacrifice of life that others might live and enjoy a happy productive life.
Listen to the words of Former President Ronald Reagan:
“It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave, and gray-haired.
“But most of them were boys when they died, they gave up two lives – the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers, and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be respected old men. They gave up everything for their country, for us. All we can do is remember.”
There is another Father who gave His Son as a sacrifice of love. That Father was God and His Son was Jesus. Jesus gave His life on the Cross so that every man, woman, boy, and girl would be free from sin, judgment, and the torture of Hell.
God gave all He had and that was His only Son. God’s love was sent in an effort to give man an opportunity to spend eternity in His presence.
Jesus said, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).
Paul sent a letter to the Romans and in that letter Paul said, “God demonstrates his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:8-9).
This is the greatest sacrifice anyone has ever made for mankind. It is difficult for us to imagine the magnitude of God’s sacrifice as it is for us to know the sacrifice of every American soldier who has given his all.
God’s Son was arrested and beaten.
He was mocked and thrashed.
They spit in his face and forced a crown of thorns into his head.
The Romans beat him with rods and then drove nails through his hands and feet and nailed him to a wooden Cross.
They raised the Cross between two thieves, stuck a spear into His side and left Him to dies a horrible death.
Jesus took the punishment for you and for me. He paid the price for our sins - past, present, and future. What did He ask for in return?
His request was very simple. Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of me” (I Corinthians 11:24). He just wants us simply to remember Him and what He did for us. We do this each time we take Holy Communion.
We use the symbol of bread to represent His body that was broken on the Cross. We use the symbol of juice to remember His blood that was shed for the remission of our sins.
Is it too much to remember those who gave their lives for us?
Is it too much to remember those soldiers who took their last step in the mine field?
Is it too much to remember the soldier who used his body to cover that of his brother and in the process sacrificed his life?
Is it too much to remember the pain and suffering Jesus endured upon the Cross?
Is it too much to remember the love that emanated from the Cross?
Every American soldier made a sacrifice of love by giving up his life. Jesus showed His sacrificial love by giving his life for each of us that we might spend eternity with Him.
God gave each one of us a memory. This Memorial Day is a day to remember our veterans who demonstrated sacrificial love by giving up their life that we might live.
This is a day to remember what God, the Father, did for all mankind by sending His Son Jesus to show sacrificial love for all of us.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the people at Corinth in which he stated these words:
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love”
(1 Corinthians 13:13).
Conclusion:
I would like to close with the words of the song, “What did He Die For?”
Listen to these words--
He was 21 in 1944
He was hope and he was courage on a lonely shore
Sent there by a mother with love beyond her tears
Just a young American who chose to rise above his fears.
And as I watch him struggle up that hill
Without a thought of turning back
I cannot help but wonder
What did he die for?
When he died for you and me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free.
I believe we will answer each in heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside and ask the question
What did he die for?
When he died for me.
To the darkest day in A.D. 33
Came the mercy and compassion of eternity
Sent there by a Father with love beyond His tears
Blameless One, the only Son
To bear the guilt of all these years
And as I watch Him struggle up that hill
Without a thought of turning back
I cannot help but wonder
What did he die for?
When He died for you and me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each in heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside and ask the question
What did He die for?
He died for you and me.
Amen.
