What is Memorial Day?

 

            Yesterday, we celebrated “Memorial Day”.  People enjoyed a day off from work and there were lots of gatherings of friends and family, but I wonder how many of us gave a second thought to what Memorial Day is all about.             

            A “memorial” is defined as “something, especially a structure, established to remind people of a person or event.”  We can find memorials all over this nation.  Some are made of bronze or marble.  Some are carved into a mountainside.  Some are large monuments while others are just small plaques.  Some of these memorials that we often take for granted are small white crosses marking the graves of the fallen. There is another memorial that records the warriors’ names on a wall, but as the song says, “they are more than just a name on a wall.”

            These memorials represent men and women who gave their all for God, country, and family.  As a new nation was born, some of them pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to a cause they believed was just and righteous.  Later, others gave their lives to eradicate the injustice of keeping another human being in chains.  In the 20^th century, our ancestors fought two major wars to stop tyranny and prevent the eradication of an entire race. 

            Were these men and women perfect?  No!  None of us are, but they saw injustices and sought to right them.  They weren’t always completely successful in their efforts, but they still made giant steps forward.  They fought and died so that we could worship freely without fear of torture or imprisonment.  Very few in the world have that privilege.  They gave their lives so that we could speak our minds without fear of retribution.  They might not always agree with our opinions, but they defended our right to express them. 

            Memorials are a simple way to honor those who have gone before us.  Their legacy may not be perfect, but they did what they could to pursue justice.  Rather than tearing down monuments, we should reflect on the legacy that we have been given.  It’s now our job to move the needle forward, constantly striving for the justice that was the foundational dream of this nation.  As we celebrate every Memorial Day, may we be reminded of the price that has been paid for our freedom and may we continue to strive toward “justice for all.”

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence).

Micah 6: 8