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

After the Civil War, women decorated the graves of their fallen soldiers with flowers to remember and honor them for giving thier lives for us.

Today is Memorial Day, a holiday in the United States. You have the day off school (if you are still in school at the end of May). Memorial Day is a day set apart for our country to remember and honor all the brave men and women, the soldiers, who have died in wars and battles fighting for our country, fighting for us.

Our first verse talks about the “mighty” soldiers who have “fallen” or died in a battle. In the Civil War in our country, the United States of America, the northern states and the southern states fought against each other. It was a very sad time in our history. Every soldier that died in the Civil War was an American!

After the Civil War, the women in the north and in the south would decorate the graves of their soldiers with flowers as a way to remember and honor them. In 1868, more than 150 years ago, Major General John A. Logan officially made May 30^th Decoration Day, the day the graves would be decorated with flowers, and the fallen soldiers would be remembered and honored.

Over time, Decoration Day became our Memorial Day because our country wanted to remember and honor all the soldiers who had died in all the wars and battles fought over the years. All these men and women are our heroes!

Our second verse is what Jesus said in the Bible. The greatest love that someone can have is that they would lay down their life for a friend. When a soldier goes into battle, he or she knows that they might die. But they are willing to go and fight for what they believe is right and for all of those they love back at home.

Our last verse talks about someone who laid down his life for all of us, for every person. Can you guess who that was? If you guessed Jesus, you are right! Jesus loved you and me and every person so much that He willingly died on the cross and then rose again, so that you and I and anyone who believes in Jesus can live free and forever with Him!

Talk with your parents this week. Is there anyone in your family who was a soldier that died in battle? Take time to remember and honor them. You can also take time to be thankful for all the soldiers that are in our armed forces now. You can say a prayer to Jesus for them.

Blessings and peace as we all remember and honor our fallen heroes!