A Reflection On What Memorial Day Really Means…Good morning friends on this Memorial Day weekend. What are you doing on this holiday? In our culture today, this hallowed day has become one of picnics, shopping for “super holiday” sales, an extra day off work to sleep, vacation, etc. So, I think we must ask ourselves “does this day and its real purpose mean anything to us anymore?” For me, I am reminded on this day of those I lost in wars—friends and family I knew and loved. As I see my flag outside my RV, it reminds me of the blood that ran red for so many. I am also very proud of my mother, who—at 93 years old—continues getting poppies out and geraniums on all the graves of fallen soldiers. She is dedicated and I am humbled in her service to the fallen.

So, how about us, what are we doing? I am going to go back in time to the archives from Wheaton College–in fact a decade and a half before Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971!–and share parts of a powerful speech from the Rev. Billy Graham, who was in Boston to deliver a memorial address to the Veterans of foreign Wars in 1955. He had just finished visiting US military installations in Europe and Korea. It’s worth the read and well-worth remembering that we have the freedoms today that we enjoy because of others who were willing to “give it all.”

“In all the American idiom, there is no more endearing word than “buddy.” It is warm, with intonations of friendship, brotherhood and common purpose. We are assembled today to pay tribute to those, our “buddies,” who poured out their full measure of devotion upon the altar of freedom. Thousands of you gathered here could tell dramatic stories of heroism which you yourself have seen acted out by your buddies on the grim stage of war’s theater. They have left this realm of time and space, they have out-stripped us in life’s races, but the sacred memory of their selflessness and the freedom they died to obtain will live forever.

Three weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending an afternoon with President Eisenhower at Gettysburg. He took me on a personally conducted tour of the Battlefield of Gettysburg, explaining the strategy used by both the Confederate and Union forces. Both of my grandfathers fought at Gettysburg. This famous battlefield, and hundreds of others like it, have become hallowed soil, where thousands of Americans have died either to preserve freedom, prevent aggression or keep intact the union of American states. The President said, ‘This is where they got it for us.’ What did he mean?

I learned quickly when once I stood by the bedside of a boy in Korea whose spine had been torn away by a shell blast the night before, but by some miracle he was still living. He was unable to change his position; and if he lived, the doctor informed me, the rest of his days would be spent lying on his stomach. The army medics had patched him up the best they could. I gripped his cold, perspiring hand and said words of comfort to him. He made a statement I will never forget. He said: ‘It was worth it if it will keep America free!’ That’s what you call getting it for us! Freedom comes at a high cost indeed. As we think of the selflessness and heroism of such fellows, we are reminded of the words of Jesus Christ who said: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The freedoms we enjoy, the freedoms we take so much for granted, the freedoms we so often trifle with were bought not by the gold of our millionaires, nor altogether the genius of our scientists, nor the sacrifices of the people at home, but primarily by the blood, sweat and agony of those whose names on this day we should and must honor—those who died that we might live!

They found, as have brave people of all ages, that there are principles well worth dying for. Their noble, unselfish sacrifice is a silent, eloquent rebuke to the self-centeredness of this generation. Let those who want “peace at any price” remember this day that thousands have died for honor and freedom and that what we have today has come at the price of shed blood.

Even though the sacrifices of our war dead have been great, yet the greatest sacrifice of all time was made by a man on a cross who died not only physically but spiritually that men might live. We have neglected Him too long! We have rejected His plan for peace, and as a result, we have fought, bled and died for centuries! I challenge the world at this hour to accept His program of heart regeneration that can transform the society in which we live, and we may, perhaps, begin to know the meaning of genuine peace in our time.

Yes the bells of liberty ring in America today because these soldiers we honor today ‘got through for us.’ The sacred memory of their sacrifice will always live in our hearts, and we have a sacred and holy trust and — we cannot fail them!”

Friends, let us pray on this solemn day …

O God, today may we put our holiday choices on hold for a time to pause and reflect on the sacrifice made by those who paid the ultimate price on behalf of our nation as well as for our allies as we work together for the good of all. We pray that their sacrifices are never forgotten, nor is the pain of their families. Instill in us a deep desire to care for those left behind in our prayers and our outreach to them.

Freedom comes at a high cost, help us to pursue peace. And in doing so, we will have more hope for when we’ll celebrate Memorial Day as just a memory of the time before we started living the peaceful existence You intended for us since the beginning of creation.

We turn to you in our grief and in our remembrance of the fallen. Guide us toward a life that desires to live with one another in unity as this is how we can honor those who were willing to give up their lives that we may live freely today.

On this Memorial Day, we pray for peace and for those who gave it all. Lead us toward a world where no one must give their lives in pursuit of freedom. May we be receptive to Your guidance, and may we never forget the fallen. O Jesus, hear our prayer, Amen.