Pause and Remember the Reason for Memorial Day

John Stuart Mill once wrote,” War is an ugly thing, but the ugliest of all things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war is worse. A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does his personal safety is a miserable creature, who has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than he.” It is that “decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling” which accounts for why so many “miserable creatures” have relegated Memorial Day to nothing more than a date on a calendar to exploit for commercial greed, cupidity and political maneuvering. Too many of America’s citizenry are overly preoccupied partying, playing in the surf, firing up the grill and just having a good time to pause, and recognize the priceless burden borne by generations of our uniformed patriots. Similarly, many seekers or holders of public office will use Memorial Day to advance personal or partisan interests. They will use this day as a soapbox to feign Patriotism, while they are in constant violation of oaths to America’s Constitution.

Memorial Day is the one day a year when we are asked to remember those who gave their lives for this country. Most of them were in their teens or early twenties. All of them had plans for a full and long life, but they interrupted those plans because they knew that serving their country, and the risks that commitment entails, was more important than life itself. Their dreams and their expectations ended suddenly on a battlefield. Some of them are buried in unmarked graves on foreign soil or rest forever in the sea. Some became missing in the fog of war and will never be accounted for.

For those of us who served, and for the Gold Star families and friends of those who gave their lives, Memorial Day will always be the one day a year when we publicly honor our battle buddies, our brothers, our sisters, our sons, our daughters, our fathers, our mothers, our nieces and nephews, our cousins ... all those who perished, their young lives cut short, while serving America ... while fighting next to us ... while protecting you. We remember them daily. We will never forget them... the sound of silence military tribute lyrics - YouTube

Armed Forces Day

On the third Saturday in May, millions of American Patriots, especially those of us who understand the price paid for the Liberty we enjoy, pause to honor those who are securing it for us every day. Armed Forces Day. is an opportunity to express gratitude to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen serving our nation, active duty, reserve, and guard. 

The same is true today as it was in 1776 when John Adams addressed his compatriots. The following are his words: "I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means." As we enjoy this Armed Forces Day, let us be mindful that we should never take for granted the people God places along our path.

Today's Ruminations

Today’s Ruminations: Why are thousands of radical abortion activists from across America protesting the right to terminate a baby’s life? Why are these same pro-abortion extremists engaging in violence, firebombing pro-life groups, vandalizing, and disrupting churches, forcing pregnancy centers to close and staging intimidating protests outside the homes of members of the Supreme Court? Can you envision trashing a house of worship or burning down a pregnancy center because the “Days of Rage” or the "Summer of Rage" hoi polloi may be hampered in their efforts to prematurely dispatch or deprive an unborn baby of life for the sake of convenience? That's what they're doing. Why are these pro-abortion ingrates resorting to terrorism, intimidation, coercion, aggression...? Do you suppose the pro-abortionists realize they can’t win the argument over abortion, so they are doing everything in their power to drive the pro-life majority into submission?  

Do you believe as I do, that all life is holy, pure, and inviolable, and we must respect it as we respect God, the giver of life? Throughout the entirety of the Bible, is it not clear that God knows all things, also that which is to come, and has known this from time without end?  In this way He has always known each person, each life, even before conception. Not only does God know every individual before they exist, but He even has a purpose with each of these lives. This is expressed clearly in the Word of God: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book, they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when yet there were none of them.”