Remember the Purpose

Today is Memorial Day, a day in which we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Let us remember the soldiers on both sides of the conflicts who gave their lives. It is after all a day which came into practice after the Civil War.

But let us also remember it is not a day to honor all veterans. There is a separate day for that called, of all things, Veteran's Day. That is the day we honor everyone who served, and I do give my thanks, but today is about those who died in that service. Whose lives were cut short. Those whose dreams and ambitions, and those of their families, were lost on a battle field somewhere around the world. Let us focus on honoring them today.

Perhaps if we go back to the original title, Decoration Day, we will recapture what the day was about, a time to go to the cemeteries and decorate the graves of the soldiers with flags. Gen. John Logan, who was the first to call for the remembrance, chose May 30, because there were no Civil War battles fought on that day, so it did not remember any one battle, or the victory or loss of any one side. Instead it was about the sacrifice of all soldiers who died. So let us remember them today, and focus on all veterans on the day set aside for them.

Here is a prayer written by Austin Fleming, priest at Holy Family in Concord:

Memorial Day Prayer

In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts,
let us call on the name of the One whose power over us
is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing…

You who created us,
who sustain us,
who call us to live in peace,
hear our prayer this day.

Hear our prayer for all who have died,
whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone…

Hear our prayer for those who put the welfare of others
ahead of their own:
give us hearts as generous as theirs…

Hear our prayer for those who gave their lives
in the service of others,
and accept the gift of their sacrifice…

Help us to shape and make a world
where we will put down the arms of war
and live in the harvest of justice and peace…

Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones:
in our hearts let your healing be our hope.

Hear our prayer this day
and in your mercy answer us
in the name of all that is holy.

Amen.