Today is the Memorial Day holiday here in the U.S. It’s a holiday set aside for the remembrance of the men and women who sacrificed their lives in service of our country.
Freedom is not free.
We are blessed to live in a country with unprecedented freedom.
- We are free to write and speak our mind.
- We are free to marry the one we love, have children, and raise them the way we think best.
- We are free to worship God any way we choose.
- We are free to select our own local and national leaders.
- We are free to pursue our dreams even when they seem impossible, crazy, or stupid to everyone else.
I thank God for these freedoms. I’m grateful for all who have sacrificed their lives going all the way back to the War of Independence all the way up through the war against terrorism going on in Afghanistan today. My heartfelt gratitude and sympathy to all of you who have lost love ones fighting for freedom.
This post an open forum for everyone to post their thoughts related to Memorial Day.
If you’ve lost a love one in service, write a note about him or her in the comments.
If you want to express your gratitude and sympathy to those who have lost love ones, please do.
If you have a favorite story or quote about freedom or sacrifice that’s meaningful for you, please share it.
[Image by soldiersmediacenter]
First of all, I am a veteran. I am the wife, and daughter and grandaughter of a veteran as well. This is a life I am both honored to have lived, and proud to be a part of. For me, it was a realized dream. It was an honor to serve in such a way. I do know some who lost their lives. It is hard to think about the special thing that is a military funeral. Hard to not relive those emotions (and it’s been many years) but I will never forget. God is paramount in giving us strength where strength seems to be elusive. I thank Him for that.
To you, Paul, for writing this blog post – I thank you. Many people don’t think of those things (much less verbalize them into writing for all to see) – and so, with that, I do thank you. I also want to thank my fellow veterans, past, present, and those who will serve in the future. As the blog author said, we are where we are in large part because of those willing to stand up and serve, and in some cases give all.
Laura thanks for your service, as well as for the sacrifice and risks you’ve taken by having your family serve. It’s great that you point to God as the source of your strength.
You’re welcome. I am humbled today. For me, it truly was an honor to serve. To hear thanks so many times made me smile, and brought a tear to my eye more than once today. My children know what today means, and why it is so very important. I am proud of the time I served – even though there were many things I wish I could erase from my memory banks! haha
That said, I definitely point to God as my source of strength. Without Him in my life, I can certainly say that I do not know where my life would be today – or if I’d even be alive. God has protected me in so many ways. I cannot thank Him enough for what he has done in my life – both then, and also recently as well.
Okay, sorry! I’m not always quite so talkative. It just happens you found a couple of topics very near and dear to my heart. Thank you for listening. Now, I will stop hijacking your blog comments.
Our soldiers past, present, and future are the heroes that allow us the freedoms that we have. The often sacrifice in ways that we do not see. The sacrifice in the context of their family, sometimes they experience the loss of friends in combat, and there have been times in our country’s past where they have been unappreciated for their sacrifice. I say thank you to everyone that has served. You are my heroes!
I also posted my thoughts on Memorial Day. It is available at: http://larrywestfall.com/memorial-day-a-day-to-remember-our-heroes/
Subject: Honoring Memorial Day by Being True To The American Heritage Our Soldiers Died to Protect
Read my Memorial Day Address, delivered in part as I led worship at The Bridge Christian Church on Saturday night, and in its entirety Sunday morning on the Skidmore College radio station FM91.1 Saratoga Springs, NY.
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