For Those That Gave All

“It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives — the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country, for us. And all we can do is remember.” Ronald Reagan, November 11, 1985

The words “Happy Memorial Day” just don’t seem fitting . . . to attach happy to a day we’ve set aside to honor the lives lost in defense of our great nation. While I don’t believe any of these soldiers would begrudge Americans their day of rest . . . their day of barbecues and family gatherings . . . of picnics and swimming . . . I believe so many who are no longer with us would tell us to embrace all that we have . . . to cherish each moment and hold those we love a bit closer. And I also believe we would be remiss in going about this day as if it’s a day only of celebration and not honor. A day of giddiness and not gravity. A day of games and fun without any solemnity.

There is something so bittersweet in the celebration of a life well lived. The point of intersection where grief and joy meet . . . where precious and beautiful memories clash with the reality that the person, so well loved, will never be with you, on this earth, again. And I believe this is even more true with a life that is given in sacrifice to one’s country. Words alone cannot express the immensity of gratitude for these men and women who gave all they had. . . who sacrificed their lives, not just for their own freedom, not just for the freedom of those they loved, but for the freedom of total strangers . . . for you and for me. Who willingly walked into battle knowing they may never return . . . to their homes, their friends, their families . . . to the country they loved enough for which to die. The enormity of their sacrifice cannot be overstated.

Today, as we go about our business . . . as we gather with family . . . as we drive to work . . . as we do our normal day to day activities . . . may we take the time to stop and honor those who have sacrificed everything so we may live in the freedom we currently have. May we remember that these were sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, friends so dearly loved. May we never be flippant about the freedom that results from that sacrifice. May we never take it for granted. The price paid was too high, the sacrifice too great, for us to hold it in anything but the highest regard.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends – John 15:13