How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle! 2 Samuel 1:25 ESV

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:16 ESV

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 John 3:16

Flowers were placed on the graves of soldiers who had died in the Civil War to remember and honor there sacrifice for their country and for all of us.

Today is Memorial Day, a day when we remember and honor all those men and women in our armed forces who gave their lives in battles and wars so that we could be free and safe.

You know I love to find out the history of holidays. So…Memorial Day. After the Civil War, women in many cities and communities, in both the North and the South, would decorate the graves of their soldiers who had died in battle with flowers as a way to honor and remember them. For that reason, our modern day Memorial Day was first called Decoration Day. 

In 1868, Major General John A. Logan formally chose May 30^th as Decoration Day, a day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. Over time Decoration day evolved into Memorial Day in order to remember all the fallen soldiers who had died in other battles and wars. It was in 1971 that Memorial Day became a federal holiday commemorated on the last Monday of May.

Today, let’s all take some time to remember and honor all those brave soldiers who died fighting for us. May we never forget our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives for freedom, for our country, and for us. They laid down their lives for us, there is no greater love. May we also not forget and be always grateful to all the brave men and women who have fought and are currently serving in our armed forces.

But also on this Memorial Day, I ask us to remember another who laid down his life willingly for us; Jesus, the Son of God, the One who laid down His life for every person in the world. Because of His great love for us, He chose to die and rise again so that we might live in freedom, redeemed and chosen, loved and eternally His. All honor and glory to God the Father and Jesus our Savior.

Today and this week, let’s remember all our heroes with gratitude, reverence, honor, love, and respect. Let’s also give glory to our Lord.

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me as we “remember” on Memorial Day.

Blessings in freedom and peace!