May 25th, 2023
by David Parker
by David Parker
Most of us know that Memorial day (at the end of May) is a wonderful three-day weekend holiday as we approach the beginning of summer and the end of another school year. From a Newsweek online article by Lee Habeed, we know:
“The number of Americans—and American families like ours—who paid that price is well over a million lives lost—and that's not counting the sons and daughters who would never be, the marriages that never happened, and the grandkids who were never born. More than 25,000 died fighting in the Revolutionary War; 36,000-plus in the Korean War; 58,000 in the Vietnam War; 116,000 in World War I; 405,000 in World War II; and an astounding 620,000 in the Civil War. To date, over 7,000 Americans have died in the global war on terror, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Memorial Day is all about honoring the men and women of America who lost their lives in service to our country. During this day, we are called to pause, reflect, and pay tribute to these great sacrifices for the cause of freedom and justice, and to remember the debt of gratitude owed to those who gave their last and ultimate measure of devotion.
Yes, our consumer culture has taken advantage of another day off of work and consumer sales will be found everywhere (cars, mattresses, home improvement, summer gear & attire, sports and so much more)! But more than a weekend of fun and sun and consuming, Memorial Day is about never forgetting the price paid for the free society we live in today.
This special day has its origins from Gen. John A. Logan. He started the tradition back on May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery, where he and some volunteers decorated the graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. In 1971, Decoration Day was renamed Memorial Day and became a national holiday to honor all Americans who died serving their country in times of war.
I hope you will join me, each in your own way, remembering and honoring the men and women who gave their lives for our country. In our worship service this Sunday, we will dedicate our prayer time to view a special tribute video, acknowledge all our veterans and their families, as well as use our prayer time to lift them up to the Lord in grateful thanks.
“Pay to all what is due them…respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.”
Romans 13:7 NASB
Pastor David 😊
PS – The 5th Annual Oak Harbor Lions Club “Service of Remembrance” will be Monday, may 29th, at Maple Leaf Cemetery at 10 am.
“The number of Americans—and American families like ours—who paid that price is well over a million lives lost—and that's not counting the sons and daughters who would never be, the marriages that never happened, and the grandkids who were never born. More than 25,000 died fighting in the Revolutionary War; 36,000-plus in the Korean War; 58,000 in the Vietnam War; 116,000 in World War I; 405,000 in World War II; and an astounding 620,000 in the Civil War. To date, over 7,000 Americans have died in the global war on terror, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Memorial Day is all about honoring the men and women of America who lost their lives in service to our country. During this day, we are called to pause, reflect, and pay tribute to these great sacrifices for the cause of freedom and justice, and to remember the debt of gratitude owed to those who gave their last and ultimate measure of devotion.
Yes, our consumer culture has taken advantage of another day off of work and consumer sales will be found everywhere (cars, mattresses, home improvement, summer gear & attire, sports and so much more)! But more than a weekend of fun and sun and consuming, Memorial Day is about never forgetting the price paid for the free society we live in today.
This special day has its origins from Gen. John A. Logan. He started the tradition back on May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery, where he and some volunteers decorated the graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. In 1971, Decoration Day was renamed Memorial Day and became a national holiday to honor all Americans who died serving their country in times of war.
I hope you will join me, each in your own way, remembering and honoring the men and women who gave their lives for our country. In our worship service this Sunday, we will dedicate our prayer time to view a special tribute video, acknowledge all our veterans and their families, as well as use our prayer time to lift them up to the Lord in grateful thanks.
“Pay to all what is due them…respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.”
Romans 13:7 NASB
Pastor David 😊
PS – The 5th Annual Oak Harbor Lions Club “Service of Remembrance” will be Monday, may 29th, at Maple Leaf Cemetery at 10 am.
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