Memorial Day Edition: Memorialized?

Friday, May 27, 2011
Memorialized? As most all of us know by now, this coming Monday is a holiday we call Memorial Day. The sad truth is that for a large portion of America, Memorial Day means no work or school and grilling out with family and friends. To many, that’s it – that’s the extent of the significance of the day. Even some who are asked about what the day is about will tell you that they think it’s about spending time with family and “remembering a hard year’s work.”
Meanwhile, a few thousand miles from here at this very moment he is standing armed at his assigned post. He has no idea what the next car that comes through his checkpoint will have inside. Will it have explosives? Will it have armed terrorists? Will there be an improvised explosive device planted somewhere between where he is posted and his barracks when his shift here is done?
His young wife is raising her 3 year old and 1 year old newborn basically on her own for the next 12 months while he keeps our country safe. She goes to sleep at night crying and praying. She prays for his safety, and that God will bring her husband home. She has no idea that tomorrow morning a car will pull into her driveway and an Army Officer and an Army Chaplain will greet her at her front door with news she’s prayed every night she would never hear.
There are men and women laying down their lives on this very day for us. They are fighting the enemy there so we don’t have to encounter them here. Memorial Day isn’t about politics, or whose side you take on the issue of the wars we’re fighting, or even war in general. Memorial Day isn’t about whether you are a republican, democrat, independent, green party, TEA party, or nothing at all. Memorial Day isn’t about whether you voted for Barrack Hussein Obama or John McCain in 2008, or even who you are voting for next year.
Memorial Day is about memorializing – remembering – the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It’s about holding up as heroes those who have proven themselves as such. It’s about seeing someone in uniform and shaking their hand and telling them how much you appreciate what they do for you, and for your freedom.
It’s about taking a Wal-Mart gift card to the family down the street who has a dad or mom fighting right now. It’s about putting your hand over your heart every time you see an American flag, knowing that it’s being worn on the uniform of someone that’s in combat right now blaring freedom’s message even while they fight. It’s about hearing the National Anthem play, and singing along instead of just standing there like you don’t know the song. It’s about realizing what makes America great, and thanking those men and women for it.
So on Monday, what will you be thinking about: hamburgers, hot dogs, relaxation, family time…? Or will you join me in making a conscious effort to REMEMBER those who are fighting, and those who have fought until death, for the cause of my freedom? Let’s make sure Memorial Day is truly a day of memorializing.



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

This blog is brought to you courtesy of http://fromblake.blogspot.com. Visit today and sign up to become an official follower!
If you’d like to receive “A Thought From Blake” in your email inbox every day, email Blake at the address below!
Feel free to write blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com