What is Memorial Day really about?
Listened to our church Live Stream service from yesterday. Today is Memorial Day and we are off.
But, the day is not just (or is hardly) about picnics and barbeques, but instead it's about memorial and remembrance. Neil, a church member, stepped forward to lead us all in understanding that.
Neil is a Vietnam vet, who served in our U.S. Army, and is passionate about helping people understand the day. He is not a typical speaker or presenter, but just really felt God pressing on his heart this time around, and he obeyed.
Our pastor was away for the weekend --his oldest son was getting married--so we had a sub-pastor, Brendan Saunders. I understood Neil met with our pastor to discuss how he felt God leading him to lead this service, and it turned out to be a wonderful program.
Flag procession
We opened with our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner" playing while Neil led the procession of flags down our aisle. As we finished the song, 4 flags were held in place and then put back into their posts. All stayed standing as Neil led us in the pledge of Allegiance.
Then, Neil did his presentation. He introduced himself, shared the call God put on his heart that was especially to lead the flag procession, and described what each flag meant. The flags were presented in this order.
POW MIA flag - (Black and gold with POW MIA sign) - for prisoners of war and all those missing in action(war)
Christian Flag - has a cross on it
Ukranian flag - the church shows its solidarity with the Ukraine (We also have a personal connection, as there is a pastor over there with whom we support as one of our missions
American flag
Neil stated that the mission was noble. And, for those who new those who died, they will forever be in their hearts.
For the more than 1million veterans who fought for God, country and family.
He recited these scripture verses:
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance -Ps. 33:12
and Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the Lord! -Ps. 144:15Neil also described the 4 pillars of the American Legion:
1.) Strong national defense
2.) Fellow comrades
3.) American core values (God, country, family, patriotism, freedom to worship)
4.) Children - brought up strong in a country that is free
How can we continue to honor Memorial Day?
Share legacies and tell stories with your children about those who are no longer here, take care of our loved ones.
Finally, he closed with this quote:
"Memorial Day is not about picnics and parades. Memorial Day is about gratitude and remembrance. It's about honoring the men and women who made it possible for us to gather here to day in peace, but the reason that there is a Memorial Day, the reason we are gathered here to remember those who made our way of life possible. They truly are the guardians of our freedom. God bless America and God bless us all."
He then closed in prayer:
Our hearts break today because we've turned as a country away from you in many places. Please have mercy on us as a nation. Help us Lord as Christian brothers and sisters to continue to spread the word and your love throughout the country so far. Lord that your Truth always prevails through this land, and that those that bled and died for us, that we can remember them and that their lives have not been lost in vain.
Grateful to be part of a church that chooses to honor our fallen patriots and Memorial Day in general. because we can't ever forget the first and most important and lasting memorial which is that of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
-John 15:13
References:
The Four Pillars | The American Legion
Photo by Debby Ledet on Unsplash
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