My wife and I took our kids to one of the local Memorial Day services. Granted, I don’t know who all the people attend were, or how many of their loved ones had died, but it was nice to see others from all walks and places in life there.
One of the things that has bugged me in recent years is how few people seem to recognize the holiday as what it was originally intended to be, a day of recognition for those who have served their country, especially those who died doing so. While I believe it will still bug me to some degree, the main speaker, provided his perspective. He was one of those officers I who I wish I had met in my short stint in the Army R.O.T.C., Lt. Col. Kenneth Hunt.
He spoke of being happy to see people hauling their ATV’s, their campers, their whatever, off to enjoy the three day weekend. Why would a person who has risked his life to allow me the freedom to write this and worship Jesus Christ, be happy at those off to enjoy their three day weekend? Because they are free. That is what all those people traipsing off means to him.
Honestly, and sadly, it says better of him than me. If all of us were as unselfish as that, I’d say we’d all be much better off.
To all those who have served, a kinder, gentler, and hopefully less selfish thank you to all that have served. To those who have lost a loved one, or a part of their soul to the darkness that is war, thank you as well. For all, our Lord said:
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:1321st Century King James Version