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Memorial Day in America, as an annual observance, can be traced back to the end of the Civil War, a war in which over a half-million died.
Southern women scattered spring flowers on the graves of both Northern Union and Southern Confederate soldiers.
Memorial Day was born out of a need to heal our nation, and to remember the great price of freedom.
Be informed, not misled.
This is one example: "An estimated 180,000 Black soldiers served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Republican abolitionist Frederick Douglass gave a Decoration Day address at Arlington National Cemetery in 1871:“We must never forget that the loyal soldiers who rest beneath this sod flung themselves between the nation and the nation’s destroyers.”
The Federalist reminds us, "This Memorial Day, don’t just grill and chill. Reflect on those who died in service of our country and honor their memory."
The purpose of Memorial Day is to remember and honor our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who have been killed in action serving this country and its people. It is a time for somber reflection.
John Lucas writes, "One of the things that I would ask you to reflect upon this Memorial Day is the sacrifice made by those whom we honor. I don’t mean just to take a few minutes to acknowledge that they died too young, then return to your grilling, water skiing, partying, or whatever. Dig deeper."
Today I will be digging a little deeper on the radio program regarding Memorial Day--how it came to be and the deeper meaning of the Day.
Takeaway
Charles Michael Province, U.S. Army, wrote this poem:
"It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."
It is the soldier who fights for freedom.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Thankful. Remember.