Memorial Day!

My speech for Memorial Day; I gave it at the monument in the Boothbay Common. Here it is!

It is an honor and a privilege to stand here in the midst of national heroes; men who were willing to pay the ultimate price for my children and your children, for all of us and our way of life. To me, memorial day is one of our most important days of the year, and your presence here speaks of your respect and appreciation for the sacrifices that have been made. This is not just some holiday, another three day weekend, or a great start for summer – it is a reminder of the high price our freedom demands, and it is a challenge to us to live up to what has been paid for us.

In Hebrews chapter 11 of the Bible, we read a list of tremendous men and women who sacrificed everything; their standing, their fortunes, their homes, their families, their very lives; for their faith in God and those who would follow them in the faith. They did not even live to see the benefits of their sacrifice, but they did so willingly in a act of tremendous selflessness for those who would follow, putting their needs above their own. Hebrews then goes on to say,

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The challenge to Christians? Live your life in such a way that reflects the sacrifice made for you! There is a great cloud of witnesses whose blood cries out for us to continue what they began, to not waste their sacrifice!

In the same way, we all as Americans are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. We must consider those who willingly suffered and gave up their lives; we must honor those who sacrificed for the ideals we as a nation cherish. This is the great legacy of our cloud of witnesses, of our soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines. These men and women, many from our own area, were grounded in these core values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless-service, honor, integrity and personal courage. We in this country owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives so that we could live free. This memorial day is particularly poignant because of the many recent and ongoing sacrifices of our soldiers. Charles M. Province once said:

"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 the Freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, Who has given us the right to a fair trial;
And it is the Soldier--who salutes the flag, Who serves the flag, and Whose coffin is draped by the flag-- Who allows the protester to burn the flag."

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

I think we could easily substitute countrymen for friends in that verse. They have given us the greatest gift one person can give to another. They sacrificed their lives, these heroes here today willingly served with the knowledge that they may make that sacrifice, and our soldiers now are standing ready to do so as well, and we do well to honor and remember them. As Hebrews said, we must consider them who endured so much so that we will not grow weary and lose heart. They are a great cloud of witnesses whose blood cries out for us to continue what they began, to defend and cling to what they paid for with their lives, and to never forget the high price of our freedom.

(prayer) Heavenly father, Almighty and one true God, we pray for peace and a speedy end to this conflict we currently serve in. We pray that you would miraculously intervene. Grant those who lead us wisdom. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. We pray for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.
We pray you will safely deliver our troops to their families and friends who await their return, and may our nation welcome them home as heroes when they return to us. We thank you for those who were willing to sacrifice everything for us, and we ask that you comfort and encourage their grieving parents, siblings, spouses, children, friends and relatives. Help our nation to uphold and treasure the values and principles upon which our nation was founded
In Jesus name, Amen