Memorial Day 2022
Monday May 30, 2022 will be an American Holiday honoring the heroes, the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and originated in the years after the Civil War. It became an official Federal Holiday in 1971. Today many Americans young and old observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades. In Washington, DC, since 2005, Americans have witnessed parades that involve approximately 200 elements, including marching bands, active duty and retired military units, youth groups, and parade floats. Hundreds of Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom also participate. The parade draws about 150,000 spectators.
Former President Abraham Lincoln said in his 1863 Gettysburg Address, “… from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Former President Ronald Reagan at the 1984 D-Day Anniversary stated, “You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One’s country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.”
Former President George H.W. Bush said on Memorial Day in 1992, “… We must tell their stories so that our children and grandchildren will understand what our lives might have been like had it not been for their sacrifice.”
Former President George W. Bush on Memorial Day 2005 said, “Looking across this field, we see the scale of heroism and sacrifice. All who are buried here understood their duty. All stood to protect America. And all carried with them memories of a family that they hoped to keep safe by their sacrifice.”
On this Memorial day, please don’t doubt one bit that Freedom is not free, it costs lives. I know because I’ve lost friends during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom while they faced battle fearlessly and fought for freedom.
On this Memorial Day, let us recognize with full understanding the sacrifice of our men and women. Let us honor those who continually defend and protect our freedom; those who secured the areas unselfishly and took bullets so someone else may live. Let us memorialize those who crossed the waters to save those who could have been your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your son or daughter or grandchildren. Some of these men and women died, and others lost limbs, so we could be free. Some flew helicopters in dark hours of night to medivac the critically wounded warriors and civilians who were somebody’s loved one, so that they would live to tell their stories. Some of those men and women are sleeping peacefully with the Lord, but their heroism will linger because they set us free.
I recall my Pastor’s homily in one of the Catholic services I attended recently. He stated that amidst all of the barbecues and celebrations on Memorial Day, please remember to say prayers for our brave men and women who did not come back. Say a prayer for those who sacrificed their lives so we could enjoy our freedom with our families and friends.
Let us pause and pray for our Fallen Heroes especially on this day, that may our Creator grant them peace.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
