Memorial Day-Some Gave All

By: American Decency Staff

 

While we are truly grateful for all who have served in the armed services for the sake of our country and its people, Memorial Day is set apart to honor those who died while serving. To use the words of Billy Ray Cyrus, “some gave all;” it’s those who “gave all” that we have chosen to honor on this day.

Will our children and grandchildren know this consecrated day as anything more than the start of the unofficial summer season? Will it come to mean more than a day for cook outs, camping, and a day off from work? While there’s nothing wrong with those activities, let’s also share with our young ones why we have the freedom to do such things. Let’s honor their memory and thank the God of heaven for their selfless sacrifice.

Our nation began with a call to give all.

That grand, founding document, The Declaration of Independence, ends with these words: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” Trusting in God and His sovereignty, these men declared their responsibility was to promise to give all—whatever was necessary for freedom.

Memorial Day is a day set apart to remember and be grateful for their sacrifice.

A little more than a year earlier, Patrick Henry gave a stirring speech to the Second Continental Congress. He spoke of liberty, God’s power and sovereignty, man’s responsibility to fight tyranny; and while doing so, gave a call to others that they should—and proclaimed that he himself would—necessarily give all. Closing out this clarion call to freedom, Patrick Henry spoke these now well renowned words, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Memorial Day is a day set apart to remember and be grateful for their sacrifice.

Wars have come and gone; men have lived and died—all for the sake of liberty, justice, and freedom. Men and women throughout our nation’s history—including today’s present history—have cried out, “Give me liberty or give me death!” They have pledged their all for your freedoms and mine. And that was the cost for some…their all.

There is a large portion of our society today that desecrate the memory and sacrifice of these men and women who have given their all. They embrace the tyranny and injustice that these soldiers fought against. They burn the flag—our symbol of freedom, they embrace socialism, communism, and fight against the freedoms these soldiers died for. Memorial Day remembers those who died so that America would remain a free-speech zone—every inch of it; not so that some college campus could designate a few square feet to free speech.

Memorial Day is a day set apart to remember and be grateful for their sacrifice.

These men and women took an oath to uphold and fight for the Constitution of the United States of America; they gave their all in doing so. Yet, America is bringing in those who live by a different governing law—Shariah—Islamic law. They don’t come here to acclimate; they immigrate, abusing our freedom that we might accommodate. While our soldiers are fighting against the enemy without—some dying—we aren’t fighting the enemy within.

We have set aside a day—Memorial Day—to honor the fallen, those who gave all so that we can enjoy freedom. But at the same time we have embraced (or are embracing) those things which they have died fighting against.

Let us honor their memory by taking up the flag, the Constitution, and fighting the enemy within. Let us work within the bounds of our Constitution and insist that our government do the same. Let us remember their sacrifice and pledge that it will NOT be in vain.

This Memorial Day in the midst of our picnics, camping, house projects, and fun, let us take time to think on these things, honor the memory of the fallen by reminding your children and grandchildren what this day is really all about. Maybe we could even read a historical document or two. Impress upon them why this is an important day. Remind them that God is sovereign and man has a responsibility.

Daniel Webster said, “History is the providence of God in the affairs of man.” God is sovereign, but man has a responsibility. Sometimes we speak, sometimes we die, sometimes we lead; but we are to always follow the Lord.

Memorial Day is a day set apart to remember and be grateful for those who gave the highest sacrifice they could give—their lives.

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