More Memorial Day Thoughts

This was posted to The Christian Drama Forum by my Brother in the Lord, Karl Wagner:

Everyone,

I wanted to take a few moments during this National Moment of Remembrance (3:00 PM Eastern on Memorial Day) to just write to all of you regarding this US holiday. Although it has become the unofficial start of summer, with barbecues and picnics, a day off (for many), and the beginning of the blockbuster summer movies, let us never forget the reason we have this day.

It is a time to remember those who died in military service to this country, specifically in combat. I personally include all of those who died in the Sept 11 attacks in NYC, the Pentagon, and the plane that went down in PA.

I will not discuss the politics of war or wars. But, in this country, we enjoy a multitude of freedoms. Somebody, somewhere, paid the ultimate sacrifice for us, whether we remember it, or like it, or even care. Many of those who fought, like the African Americans, Japanese Americans, and Native Americans (and the list should continue), fought to protect the rights of many people who despised them, looked down on them, and denied them the rights the Constitution declared were due them. But those service men and women knew that they had to do what was necessary.

Hopefully, the comparison has dawned on you as you read this. If not, I will state it clearly. Many can accept that servicemen and women died to make us free, but have difficulty in accepting that Jesus died to make us free from sin and death. He paid that ultimate sacrifice for those who would deny Him, ridicule Him, even hate Him, as well as for those of us who would cherish His sacrifice.

Many of us on this forum have either served in the military, or have immediate or close family members who have done so, or are serving now. Some of us have even experienced combat, and cannot ever forget.

We used to celebrate Memorial Day with parades, attended by the aging veterans who could not help but remember their fallen comrades. Thankfully, some cities and towns still do have those parades. Saturday the World War II Memorial was dedicated, attended by thousands of WWII vets. Sadly, we are losing them at the rate of over a thousand a day, simply due to age.

I do believe that the servicemen and women who died would be the first to want us to celebrate our freedom. They would want the picnics, the Indy 500, and probably even the movies. But they would also be the first to urge us all to never forget that freedom is not free.

God be with you all.

Your servant in Christ,

Karl Wagner

Thanks Karl. That's kinda like what I wanted to say.