Veterans Day
Is a time to honor all those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces in wartime or peacetime. There Service, Sacrifice, and Gratitude naturally connect the veterans' experience with principles of faith.
The Echo of Greater Love
it's not just a day off, but a very special day of national thanks.
Briefly and clearly distinguish Veterans Day from Memorial Day.
Memorial Day: Honors those who died while serving.
Veterans Day: Honors all veterans, living or deceased, especially giving thanks to the living for their honorable service.
We are here to say "Thank you" to the men and women who, at some point in their lives, wrote a blank check to our country up to and including their lives.
This act of selfless commitment echoes the highest call of our faith—the call to serve and sacrifice for others.
The Call to Service
What does it mean to "serve?" It means putting a job or a mission above your own wants and needs. Veterans did this for our country, and we are called to do it for God and our community.
They willingly signed up for a mission greater than their own comfort or personal ambition. They became a part of a team, bound by duty.
They accepted discipline and hardship to protect an idea: the ideal of freedom, peace, and security for all of us.
The Biblical Echo of Service:
Matthew 20:28 " Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Jesus set the ultimate example. He didn't come here as a king demanding to be waited on; He came as a servant. His whole life was about doing for others. Veterans remind us that true leadership and love are rooted in this action, in serving.
How can we, in our own lives, answer a call to service? By putting the needs of our family, our neighbor, or our church before our own. Service isn't always glamorous; sometimes it's simply showing up and doing the hard work.
The Weight of Sacrifice
Sacrifice is giving up something valuable for the sake of something more valuable. Veterans gave up their time, their security, and sometimes their innocence.
The Veteran's Sacrifice:
Leaving Home: Giving up birthdays, holidays, and daily life with their families—the sacrifice of time and presence.
Putting their personal safety at risk for the well-being of a nation—the sacrifice of security.
Many of our veterans: carry invisible wounds (PTSD, emotional burdens) or physical injuries. These are lasting sacrifices that continue long after the uniform is put away.
The Biblical Echo of Sacrifice:
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
This verse is the heart of both military courage and Christ's ultimate act. The love is shown in the laying down. It's not just about dying, but about the willingness to give up your most precious possession (your life) for someone else's benefit. Our veterans embodied a love for country and countrymen that mirrored this "greater love."
What small, daily sacrifices can we make? Giving up a little free time to volunteer, giving up comfort to help someone in need, or giving up an argument for the sake of peace. We honor their great sacrifice by making our own small sacrifices of love and service.
The Response of Gratitude
We can't let their service and sacrifice go unnoticed or unappreciated. Our freedom is not free; it was purchased by a price freedom is not free. So, what is our response? Thankfulness.
Our Debt of Gratitude: We enjoy peace, the right to vote, and the freedom to gather (like we are today) because they stood on a wall of defense for us.
The Biblical Call to Thanks:
1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Gratitude is always God's will. Today, our gratitude is directed outward, toward our veterans, and upward, toward God for the peace we enjoy.
Beyond a "Thank You": True gratitude isn't just a word; it's an action. We honor them by caring for them.
Veterans Day is not a history lesson; it's a present call to action. Our service now is to ensure the sacrifices of veterans were not in vain. This means taking care of them and upholding the values they fought to protect.
Support veteran organizations, check on a veteran in your community, and actively work to be good citizens in the free country they preserved for us.
Let the service, sacrifice, and courage of our veterans inspire us to be "good soldiers" in our own battles—battles for faith, for family, and for our community.
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
"Today, we have done what is right. We have gathered, and we have uttered words of thanks. We have told our veterans, 'We see your service, and we honor your sacrifice.' But true gratitude cannot stop with the sound of our voice."
"We recall the words of President John F. Kennedy, himself a veteran of great bravery, who said: 'As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.'"
"What does it mean to 'live by them'? It means that we honor the veteran's sacrifice by being worthy of the peace and freedom they secured. It means:
We commit to courtesy in the free society they fought for.
We commit to caring for our neighbors, just as they cared for the nation.
We commit to service in our daily lives, reflecting the greater love of John 15:13." Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
on this Veterans Day, we pause to acknowledge the profound weight of service and sacrifice. We lift up all those who have worn the uniform of our country, asking you to bless them with peace, comfort, and restoration. Inspire us, Lord, to fulfill our gratitude not just with words, but with lives lived in justice, peace, and selfless service to one another. Help us to be worthy of the freedom that they, and your Son, laid down their lives to give us. Veterans Day, observed every year on November 11th, is a federal holiday that serves as the nation's opportunity to formally say "Thank You" to every single person who has worn the uniform of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Profound Gratitude (The "Thank You")
This is the most direct meaning. We, the citizens, are expressing our thanks to veterans for their:
Service Over Self: At some point, every veteran put the needs and security of the country above their own personal comfort, goals, and even safety. They signed up for a job that carries the ultimate risk.
Willingness to Answer the Call: Whether they served in wartime or peacetime, they made a solemn commitment to defend the nation's ideals, laws, and physical borders.
Honoring the Living: This day is specifically set aside to thank living veterans. It's an acknowledgment that their service and contribution didn't end when they took off the uniform; their courage and sacrifice are still valued.
Recognition of Sacrifice (The Cost of Freedom)
Veterans Day is a pause to reflect on the high price paid for our freedoms. This recognition includes the many sacrifices:
Time and Family: Veterans gave up birthdays, holidays, children's first steps, and anniversaries while serving overseas or on long deployments. This sacrifice of presence is felt deeply by their families and loved ones.
Security and Peace of Mind: They endured rigorous training, dangerous missions, and the psychological weight of their duties. Many veterans come home carrying wounds, both visible and invisible that they live with every day.
The Difference from Memorial Day: This is key. Veterans Day honors all who served. Memorial Day honors those who died while serving. Veterans Day ensures that those who returned home, and who are still contributing to our communities, are fully recognized for their commitment.
A Commitment to Citizenship (Living by Their Sacrifice)
For a citizen, Veterans Day isn't just a day off; it's a call to action. It forces us to ask: "What am I doing to be worthy of the freedom they protected?"
The day originated as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I ("the war to end all wars") on November 11, 1918. It is rooted in the deep desire for peace and a recognition of the terrible cost of war.
We honor veterans by exercising the rights they fought for—by voting, engaging in civil discourse, volunteering, and strengthening our communities.
Supporting the Transition: It means recognizing that veterans are our neighbors, coworkers, and friends, and that our duty is to support them as they transition back to civilian life, addressing their needs for healthcare, mental health support, and employment.
In short: Veterans Day is the day we stop to look every American who has worn the uniform in the eye and say, "Because you served, I am free. We are grateful.
