To many people
Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, is the launch of the summer season and the
many activities associated with it. For others it is a time of reflection. In
the town where I lived for many years they had a parade with local marching
bands, veterans, and children riding bikes festooned with mini-flags and red,
white, and blue streamers. The parade ended in the local church cemetery where the
VFW and other veterans placed American flags on the graves of those who died in
the service of their country. Sometimes Memorial Day is confused with Veterans
Day in November. The primary distinction between the two days is that Memorial
Day remembers the men and women who died while serving our country, and
Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. Memorial Day’s
history dates back to the end of the Civil War. It was originally established
to commemorate all who had died in the bloody war that divided the nation. Now
the day honors all Americans who died in any military service. In some
respects, it is sad that such a day for reflection has often been replaced with
summer sales, picnic celebrations, and other activities. It seems more than
appropriate to consider those who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to
serve our nation.
Among those who were commemorated on
Memorial Day are those who died on June 6, 1944. That day, D-day, was one of
the significant battles that changed the course of World War II. On that day,
10,000 Allied soldiers became causalities with more than 4,000 killed. Their
sacrifice paved the way for 150,000 servicemen to begin the arduous battle
across Europe to defeat an enemy that was wreaking havoc on that continent and
around the world. Many films have been produced depicting the horrors of that
day: “The Longest Day,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “Band of Brothers,” to name
a few. Dramatizations, however, fall short in depicting the sacrifices of that day.
Pvt. Charles Neighbor, who landed on Omaha Beach, described the battle this
way, “As our boat touched sand and the ramp went down, I became a visitor to
hell.” In this environment sacrifice and love was displayed.
I reflect on my Dad’s service during
World War II and the sacrifices he made. This Irish immigrant was drafted and
entered the army just two weeks after his daughter died. Behind, he left a
grieving wife, a new home, and a promising career. He was assigned to serve
with the Third Army under the notoriously tough Gen. George Patton. He fought
on the front lines in battles from Normandy all the way to Germany, facing
untold horrors, which he refused to talk about. He returned home from the war a
man with few physical wounds but innumerable emotional scars. He came home a
different man and to a different world than he had left. He began again. He
reentered his career, found another home, and picked up a relationship with a
wife whom he had not seen for more than two years.
In many respects men and women are
still being called upon to serve our nation in a world the Bible describes as
“filled with wars and rumors of wars.” They too are making sacrifices that
display love. Sometimes the sacrifice will be made by dying. Other times the
sacrifice will involve physical or emotional wounds that will last a lifetime. Separation
from a home and the ones they love is a burden all of them are called upon to
bear. Gratitude for the sacrifices that they make for our nation and us is a
reasonable response. This is especially true when one realizes humans are more
inclined toward self-preservation than self-sacrifice.
When I think of sacrifice on a cosmic and
eternal plane, I am struck by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He came to planet
earth to do battle with a tyrant, Satan, who waged a war against God and the
people of His creation. Jesus pictures Satan as, “The thief who comes only to
steal and kill and destroy” (John10:10). The Apostle Peter depicts this
devilish tyrant this way, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). To deal with this destructive and
powerful adversary it required the powerful intervention of God. God’s love
sent His Son into the war to defeat the enemy of our souls (John 3:16). And Jesus,
in contrast to Satan, came that people in bondage to this adversary might “have
life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
This divine mission of Jesus is a
sacrifice of love. Chris Tiegreen observed, “Jesus’ life can be described as a
life of sacrifice.” That sacrifice involved giving up His home in heaven to
come to earth, enduring the moral stench of living in a fallen world, facing
the hatred and rejection of His created beings, and concluding with the
crucifixion on the cross to shed his blood for sinful people under the slavery
of Satan’s kingdom. This sacrifice has defeated the enemy of our souls. It has
made possible by faith for us to no longer be enemies of God but to be His
children (John1:12).
Memorial Day for our nation is celebrated once a year. In a sense those who have become the children of God celebrate a “memorial day” each day and especially on Sunday as we celebrate and give thanks for the sacrifice of love that Jesus made to give us a new life. We celebrate a life no longer under tyranny of the enemy of our souls, but a life of freedom that Jesus’ sacrifice of love offers us. Jesus put it this way, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Memorial Day for our nation is celebrated once a year. In a sense those who have become the children of God celebrate a “memorial day” each day and especially on Sunday as we celebrate and give thanks for the sacrifice of love that Jesus made to give us a new life. We celebrate a life no longer under tyranny of the enemy of our souls, but a life of freedom that Jesus’ sacrifice of love offers us. Jesus put it this way, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
