On Memorial Day 2008
In 1868, the United States of America began the celebration of what we today call Memorial Day in order to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. It was then a solemn day of rememberance, where troops even from the Union honored the war dead from the Confederacy. It is one more holiday where Americans have broken faith with our forefathers in order to enjoy a day off of work and fire up the barbeque.
Today, on Memorial Day, much like Independence Day, we neglect to think for even a moment of just WHY we have the day off of work. To most, Memorial Day means little to nothing. To most, Independence Day is referred to only as the Fourth of July, as in "Happy Fourth!" when we wish our friends well and invite them over for burgers and beer. Memorial Day is and should be so much more than that.
The ultimate expression of love of country is the willingness to fight and die to preserve the freedom we've been passed from generations prior. America, despite her flaws, is unquestionably the greatest nation in the history of mankind, a force for good in a fallen world. We are blessed. But why? What makes America so great? Is it simply the stuff we can buy? Is it our posh lifestyles? Is it air conditioning? Really, it is none of these "things", but rather a spirit that lives and breathes within the fiber of every American, something undefinable by words but tangible mostly when we recognize the sacrifice of those who protect our ability to live as free men and women.
How unique in the history of mankind that a nation produces men and women who volunteer to serve our country and risk the ultimate sacrifice to preserve liberty at home and expand liberty around the world? As Americans fire up the BBQ, open a few beers and celebrate having the day off from work, my prayer is that for even just one moment each of us would remember. We would memorialize those who protect and defend our Constitution here and around the world, while many of us are quick to fritter away our liberty, forgetting the valuable lesson that as government expands, liberty MUST contract. We are blessed that such men and women exist. And today, let us honor them appropriately.
Today, on Memorial Day, much like Independence Day, we neglect to think for even a moment of just WHY we have the day off of work. To most, Memorial Day means little to nothing. To most, Independence Day is referred to only as the Fourth of July, as in "Happy Fourth!" when we wish our friends well and invite them over for burgers and beer. Memorial Day is and should be so much more than that.
The ultimate expression of love of country is the willingness to fight and die to preserve the freedom we've been passed from generations prior. America, despite her flaws, is unquestionably the greatest nation in the history of mankind, a force for good in a fallen world. We are blessed. But why? What makes America so great? Is it simply the stuff we can buy? Is it our posh lifestyles? Is it air conditioning? Really, it is none of these "things", but rather a spirit that lives and breathes within the fiber of every American, something undefinable by words but tangible mostly when we recognize the sacrifice of those who protect our ability to live as free men and women.
How unique in the history of mankind that a nation produces men and women who volunteer to serve our country and risk the ultimate sacrifice to preserve liberty at home and expand liberty around the world? As Americans fire up the BBQ, open a few beers and celebrate having the day off from work, my prayer is that for even just one moment each of us would remember. We would memorialize those who protect and defend our Constitution here and around the world, while many of us are quick to fritter away our liberty, forgetting the valuable lesson that as government expands, liberty MUST contract. We are blessed that such men and women exist. And today, let us honor them appropriately.
posted by The Rock | 8:07 AM
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