Remember

Memorial day is often seen as a three day weekend. A time meant to spend at the lake, or the beach with friends and family cooking burgers on a grill. The retail industry uses the holiday as they do any other holiday throughout the year, as a time for deep sales and excessive business.

Parades, shopping, camping, barbecues, and sometimes even fireworks mark the day.

But, how often do we stop and take a moment to think about the real reason for this day called Memorial Day?

Take a gander at this excerpt from my book Patriot. It puts into words exactly how I feel about Memorial Day.

Sam and Abby had gone to a church member’s house for a Memorial Day picnic.  Currently, Sam was over by the food table talking to a friend and Abby was simply observing from across the yard.  Not far away from her a couple of teens were discussing the war.  She couldn’t help but listen to their conversation.

“…but it’s so pointless.  We are sending thousands of men and women over to a country that we have no business being in.  They are fighting and dying to bring peace to a country that isn’t willing to fight for their own freedom.”  The first teen stated animatedly.

“I agree.  We are wasting valuable money and resources on this war.  We should have ended it years ago!  If we had then there wouldn’t be people dying for no reason thousands of miles away.”  The second teen agreed.

As Abby listened she became angry.  How could those two teens think that the war was pointless?  Did they not remember what happened on September 11, 2001?  How many people died on American soil due to terrorist attacks?  That was why so many soldiers had gone over to fight.  Not because they simply wanted to shoot at people, not because they thought they were the only ones that could bring peace to a struggling nation.  It was because there were men, women, and children back at home that couldn’t defend themselves! 

Men like Sam, Matt, and Andy had joined the military to keep things like 9/11 from ever happening within America’s borders again.  The fact that these two teens were saying that the war was pointless, that a soldier’s choices and sacrifices were wrong, saying that Andy’s death was for nothing was making her mad.  Surely they had no clue the cost of freedom or they wouldn’t be saying these things.

Abby began to wonder if people really understood the cost of freedom.  She had seen it firsthand.  In the flag-draped pine box, in the tears of a father and mother, and in the determination of Sam and Matt to carry on the work that their best friend had died for.  There were so many men and women willing to give their life so that the two teens not far from her could stand there and freely express their opinion.  

Memorial Day is a day to celebrate, don't get me wrong there.
But the reason for the celebration is what is key.

May we always remember and celebrate those who we have loved and lost, and those who have given their lives in service to our country. For only by their sacrifice can we enjoy the freedoms that we do today.

May we never forget!

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13 KJV