In recognition of Memorial Day, Faith News offers this special tribute written by Church of God Navy Chaplain Captain Larry D. Cripps.
“We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and the government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not parish from the
earth.” ~~Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address~~
I remember as a young lad rummaging through an old cedar chest in my parent’s attic and discovering my dad’s Navy uniform from WW II, as well as his cruise book from the USS Intrepid (CV-11), and a number of combat action photos. This experience caused me to realize that Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend marking the beginning of summer. It is a day to honor those who gave their lives — and all of their tomorrows — so that we might live in peace.
This Memorial Day, people all across this nation, in large cities and small towns, will gather quietly and reverently to reflect on the significance of this day. Proud veterans who served in times of peace and war will pin on their medals. Men, women, and children alike will gather to lay wreaths on the graves of the fallen. And our men and women in uniform everywhere will stand a little taller as they remember, in ceremony and sacred observance, all those who, in the words of one soldier-poet, “tasted death in youth, that Liberty might grow old.”
I have visited Arlington National Cemetery many times and during each visit I am stirred by the row after row of headstones, aligned as if it were in silent formation, reminding each new generation of Americans of the high cost of freedom. Almost a quarter of a million Americans rest there alone, from every war since the Revolution. Among them are many names we know:
General “Blackjack” Pershing, Audie Murphy, General George Marshall and so many others.
But far more numerous are the Americans whose names are not famous, whose lives were perhaps not legends, but whose deeds nevertheless were the backbone that secured our nation’s liberty. Memorial Day is the day in which we honor them. We honor them all as heroes-those who are buried there at Arlington and those who are buried all across this nation, and around the world.
When looking at the headstones at Arlington, I’m stuck by the fact they do not tell you whether or not the people buried there were rich or poor. They make no distinction regarding their race or the circumstances resulting their death. They simply stand, each of them, for one American. Each reminding us that we are descendants, whatever our differences, whatever our faith background, of a common creed-“unbeatable when united, one nation under God.”
Since September 11, 2001, most Americans have come to realize that we must continue to be vigilant against any threat to our national security. For as Patrick Henry once said, “We are not weak if we make proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power…The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” It is in this same spirit that American men and women in uniform today stand sentry all around the globe. They are the finest, best trained, best-motivated fighting force the world has ever known. Our highest commitment to them must always be to ensure that they remain ready to promote the survival and success of liberty. If they must be in harm’s way, we owe them the support they need and deserve to accomplish any mission set before them.
As we honor those who died for our country, we must also hold a special place for all those living American veterans. We owe them a lasting debt of gratitude and their well-being must always be the cause of our common concern. And let us also recognize again our solemn obligation to find answers for those whose loved ones served, but were never accounted for.
Memorial Day is a day for honoring our heroes and it also stands as a reminder that in our darkest moments, we as Americans have always had
reasons to hope and trust in God. By remembering our history, holding
on to our values, and supporting each other, we have found the strength to face any struggle thrown our way. There are countless heroes whose sacrifices have ensured what the late Franklin Delano Roosevelt called, “the four essentials of human freedom. The freedom of speech and expression.
The freedom of people to worship God in their own way. The freedom from want and the freedom from fear.” Every one of them, no matter what war they served in or what battlefield they died on, helped to secure the peace and freedom we enjoy today. Therefore, it is only proper that we set aside a day to remember, to pray and console their families, and to resolve within our own heart to carry on the never-finished work of freedom.
To learn more about the Church of God Chaplains Commission chaplaincy programs, visit the Chaplains Commission website at: www.cogchaplains.com.