Memorial Day – A Day to Remember
Scriptures: John 15:13; Mark 10:45; Acts 6:8-10
The title of my message is “Memorial Day – A Day to Remember.” This morning I want to share with you why we should take a moment and reflect on why we celebrate Memorial Day – the day we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice – their life – for our freedom. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this; that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) I want you to think about these words this weekend because this is why we are celebrating Memorial Day tomorrow. Although you may not know anyone personally who died for your freedom, I hope to share with you why you do have a reason to reflect on this day. Traditionally, we reflect on those who died in times of war, but I want to remind you not only of those individuals, but a few others who died so that we could be free spiritually. So I will start with those.
The person who truly stands alone on the list is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everyone else I talk about this morning – I talk about because of what Jesus did IN them and what He did THROUGH them. Last month we celebrated Easter, the day we set aside to remember Jesus’ death and resurrection. You know the story. He was beaten and ultimately killed so that we would have an opportunity to be free from sin and spend an eternity with Him upon our death here on earth. Jesus did this willfully for He knew what the goal was. He said in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” He died because He loved us! And then there was Stephen, the first martyr after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Stephen might not be one that you would normally think about, but his death was recorded in the book of Acts for a reason. Stephen was one of the seven men who were chosen by the Holy Spirit to care for the Church body so that the Apostles could continue their focus on spending time in prayer and in ministering the Word. In his role, he was one of the first deacons of the New Testament Church. Acts 6:8-10 records, “(8) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. (9) Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. (10) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” Stephen was a man of faith, who walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, and who did wonders and miracles. He was so full of faith that those who opposed Him could not win an argument with Him as He spoke under the power of the Holy Spirit. He was stoned to death for his beliefs, for his confession and his love for Christ. As they were stoning him, Stephen asked Jesus not to hold it to their account. He was the first martyr of the Christian faith.
Then we have several of Jesus’ disciples and the apostle Paul who did not die of natural causes. They died under the hands of those who were opposed to the spread of Christianity. Although their deaths are not recorded in Scripture, history records that Peter was crucified upside down for he did not feel worthy to be crucified in the same position as Christ. Andrew was reported as being crucified on an X-shaped cross. Phillip was crucified on a tall cross in the country now known as Turkey. Bartholomew was flayed alive in what is now known as India. Matthew is reported as dying as a martyr. Thomas was killed with a spear and was buried in India. James, son of Alphaeus, was thrown off the temple by the Jews and beaten to death with a club. It is believe that Paul was beheaded in Rome. These all died for their faith and belief in Jesus Christ and for spreading the gospel, which then found its way to us some 2000 years later. So our first remembrance for Memorial Day is for those whose death paved the way for our spiritual freedom, which gave us the opportunity to spend an eternity with Christ. I am grateful for their lives and I hold their remembrance in my heart.
Next I want to examine Memorial Day in the context that we are all familiar with, remembering those who died serving their country. As you know, Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemetery. By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers. Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those who lost their lives in the Civil War. But during World War I, the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars. So, in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as a federal holiday that would be observed on the last Monday in May.
My journey to understanding Memorial Day began in 1981. On July 30, 1981, I left my home and boarded a bus for Nashville, Tennessee. When I arrived in Nashville, I was taken to a military depot where I was registered and later placed on an air plane that would take me to San Antonio, Texas. When I arrived in San Antonio late that night, I was taken to Lackland Air Force Base where I would spend six weeks in basic training for the United States Air Force. During that time, I learned the basics of military life, some of which have stayed with me for the last forty plus years. During basic training, we were taught how to dress, clean, shower, march, make our beds, etc. The primary focus of our training was to help us develop self-discipline and learn how to operate as a team. You see, this was drilled into us early so that regardless of the situation we found ourselves in after basic training, we would support one another as family, especially if we were on a battlefield.
During basic training we learned that the greatest sacrifice that one could possibly give in our service for our country was our life. We all understood that this could one day be a part of our future. When I became a Non-Commissioned Officer, this was drilled into us because we were leaders of others and the day could come when an order we received and ultimately gave could cost someone their life. We were to be leaders whom others would willingly follow, even to their death. Both my father and brother served in the military. I have uncles, cousins and close friends who also served in the military. While we might have served in different branches of the military, we all took the same oath, which required us to “solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” This oath set the stage for our lives in the military. Through this oath we became part of a unit (family) where the lives of others were more important than our own.
As a medic in the Air Force, I witnessed death as a part of my job, so my view of Memorial Day might be a little different from yours. However, many people have not served in the military and many of our young people do not understand the need to remember those who have died serving this country. As I stated at the beginning, I want to share four stories with you to help you understand the commitment required when someone chooses to enlist in the military and possibly make the ultimate sacrifice to save others. For those of you who have never served, it’s important for you to know that when a person enlists in the military they choose to give up some of the freedoms that they had as a civilian. As a civilian you can come and go as you please. As a military person, you come and go as you are told. I am not saying this figuratively, this is real. It is a true statement that your family life comes second to your military life. Being in the military and/or a family member of someone serving on active duty requires an understanding that the needs of “Uncle Sam” outweigh the needs of your family in some situations. I want you to keep this in mind as you listen to the four stories I will share this morning because in my opinion, these stories fulfill what Jesus said in John 15:13.
Army Specialist Ross McGinnis saved the lives of four fellow soldiers while on patrol when his vehicle was attacked in Northeast Baghdad on Dec. 4, 2006. While McGinnis was manning the .50-caliber machine gun on top of the vehicle, an insurgent threw a fragmentation grenade inside. McGinnis, yelled “grenade ... it's in the truck!” At this moment, he had the choice to either jump out of the vehicle or cover the grenade and prevent others from injury. Without hesitating, he jumped on the grenade. McGinnis’ platoon sergeant, Cedric Thomas, recounts how he saw McGinnis quickly “pin down” the grenade. Thomas said, “He had time to jump out of the truck ... he chose not to.” McGinnis, a private first class at the time, was posthumously promoted to specialist. Doing what he did was a matter of kindergarten math, McGinnis’ parents said. “The right choice sometimes requires honor.” He was 19 years old. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 6, 2008. He died doing what he had been trained to do, look out for someone other than himself. Specialist Ross McGinnis, you are not forgotten!
The next three stories are of three individuals who died in the War in Vietnam. If you visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. you could find the names of Fred Traylor, Matthew Leonard and James Lockridge inscribed on black granite walls along with the names of more than 58,000 other Americans who gave their lives or remain missing in action. The Memorial is dedicated to the “courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country” of all who answered the call to serve during the longest war in U.S. history. The creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was an important step in national healing after one of America’s most divisive wars. When the Wall was dedicated in 1982, Jan Scruggs, who served in Vietnam and was the driving force behind its creation, summed up his feelings this way: “Thank you America…for finally remembering us.” Here are the three stories that I have chosen from the many that I could share.
Marine Corporal Fred Traylor, while serving in Vietnam on June 17, 1969, was on a search and destroy mission in the area of Dong Ha. The marines soon found themselves under heavy fire and pinned down by enemy forces. Corporal Traylor fearlessly volunteered to assist in evacuating his companions from positions dangerously exposed to enemy fire. As he maneuvered across hazardous terrains towards the wounded marines, he was killed by the detonation of a mortar round. He was killed while attempting to save his fellow marines. He was 20 years old. He could have chosen to stay safe from enemy fire, but he chose to put his life on the line for his fellow soldiers. He chose to lookout for someone other than himself. Corporal Fred Traylor, you are not forgotten!
Sergeant First Class Matthew Leonard was serving in Vietnam when his platoon was ambushed by enemy forces. After his platoon leaders were injured, Sergeant Leonard led his men in a charge against the enemy and erected a defense perimeter around their location. When one of the men in his platoon was injured and was outside of the defense perimeter, Sergeant Leonard left his position to get him. In doing so he was wounded but refused treatment knowing that he was now in charge of the platoon. During the heated battle, Sergeant Leonard charged the enemy’s machine gun position and was able to capture the gun and defeat the crew even though he had been shot several times. With multiple wounds in his body, he continued to fire upon the enemy. He died propped up against a tree still firing his weapon at the enemy forces. He died defending those he considered family. Sergeant First Class Matthew Leonard, you are not forgotten.
Army Corporal James T. Lockridge always wanted to be a soldier. His parents were reluctant to allow him to join the military, but after much pleading, they relented and he joined the Army in May 1959. In 1965 he was stationed in Vietnam. While in Vietnam he witnessed the deaths of his friends and other new soldiers who were killed on the front line shortly after arriving there. In a letter to his brother written on March 31, 1966, he described a battle he was in while out on patrol. His battalion was almost overrun by the Vietnamese. He had been injured by a grenade and shot and stated “we fought and bled on the line…until we were evacuated by chopper.” Because of his actions in that battle, he was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry which was awarded for “recognition of deeds of valor or heroic conduct while in combat with the enemy.” He was also put in for Silver Star which is the third highest military decoration for valor in the United States Armed Forces. At this point in his career he was a distinguished Non-Commissioned Officer holding the rank of Sergeant.
Three months later in the month of June, the Lockridge family’s worst fears were realized when they received word that Corporal Lockridge had been killed in action in Vietnam. He had less than three months left on his tour before he was to return home. They had received little information about how he had died from the army. As the family pressed the Army for more details surrounding his death, it became clear that he had not died in action as originally reported. A friend, who was with Corporal Lockridge when he died, contacted the family with the truth.
Corporal Lockridge had not died in battle, but in fact had been murdered which was later confirmed by the army. It is believed that his death was in retaliation to an incident that had happened a week before with his new lieutenant. The new lieutenant had joined then “Sergeant” Lockridge’s unit. Shortly after arriving, while they were out on patrol, the new lieutenant gave an order that Sergeant Lockridge disagreed with because it would put the soldiers in extreme danger. Sergeant Lockridge was a decorated Non-Commissioned Officer with direct knowledge of their surrounding having been in several battles on the ground. Understanding the situation, he attempted to offer an alternative solution, but the discussion grew violent. During the physical altercation Corporal Lockridge broke the lieutenant’s jaw. Consequently, he was demoted from Sergeant to Corporal. A week after this incident, two South Vietnamese soldiers approached him in a laundromat on base and one of the men shot him. His friend rushed him to the hospital where he died. He was 26 years old. The Army officially lists his cause of death as intentional homicide. It is believed that his death was ordered by the lieutenant whose jaw he broke. You might ask why I chose to share this story in such detail, especially in light of the first three. If you recall the oath that all servicemen and women take when they enlist, one sentence says “I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me….” Sergeant Lockridge made a conscious decision to disobey a command which led to a physical altercation with a superior officer and his being demoted to Corporal. I am sharing this story because he made a conscious decision to disobey a direct order because had he obeyed the order it would have potentially cost the lives of some of his men. He felt so strongly about saving the lives of his men that he was willing to disobey a direct order. Also, it was reported that the lieutenant threw the first punch and that Sergeant Lockridge was defending himself, which explained his demotion versus three months in prison and a dishonorable discharge. Sergeant Lockridge had grown tired of seeing men die needlessly and made an on the spot decision not to allow it to happen on that fateful day.
This story hits very close to home because Corporal Lockridge was my mother’s brother – I called him Uncle Thomas. I have a few memories of his last visit to our home when I was five and I vaguely remember his death. What has stayed with me for the last fifty plus years is not “how” he died, but “why” he died. I remember his death and the deaths of others who died serving this country. There are many men and women who have died so that we can wake up and have the freedom to do whatever it is we choose to do on a given day. We live in a democracy because we have men and women who have fought and died in wars to maintain it. Today we continue to enjoy our freedom because of the men and women serving in our military. I do not know about you, but Memorial Day weekend is not just another three day weekend that officially kicks off summer, it’s a weekend of remembering those who gave their lives for something greater than themselves. During the Civil and Vietnam Wars, some soldiers died fighting for a country that did not appreciate them. Soldiers returned home to persecutions for serving in an unpopular war. Imagine being one on the front lines fighting for a global cause only to return home to be persecuted by those who never served. That does something to a person. I thank God that there is an appreciation for our military today.
Jesus said “Greater love has no one than this; that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) The four stories that I chose to share with you today are examples of men who laid down their lives for someone else. As I read their stories I know that they had dreams and plans for what they would do when they returned home. They had or desired families and children of their own. They had things they wanted to achieve in life. And yet, when it came down to making a decision, they forfeited it all for those they served with. In one way or another they gave their life to save another.
Jesus sacrificed His life for mankind. He said this is the greatest show of love that a person can show towards someone else. The stories I shared today all have an element of someone sacrificing themselves for others. On this Memorial Day I want you to remember two things. First and foremost, Jesus gave His life to save us. He did that because of love. It is this love that He instills within us that helps us to make those same decisions. Secondly, while there is a lot of negativity in our world, I want you to remember that there are still people who are willing to put others ahead of themselves. Philippians 2:3 says “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” If you make this decision then you will understand why the decisions were made in the stories that I shared today and why moving forward we should always remember to reflect on the sacrifices others have made on Memorial Days.
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
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