The last Monday in May (this coming Monday) has been the designated date for remembering the fallen from the wars our nation has fought. “All gave some but some gave all” is a saying that sums up the meaning nicely. In a time when America is fractured politically, it would do everyone well to remember that in times past there have been multiple opportunities for America to fall. Were it not for men and women willing to write the United States a blank check, for the amount up to their life, our way of living would not be the envy of the world.
During the American Revolution, roughly five thousand gave their lives fighting the English for the right to self-govern with the inalienable rights God has assigned to humans. In 1812 we fought a war and three thousand died. The bloodiest war we have ever fought happened right here on the soil we call America. The Civil War saw over 618,000 die on both sides of the divide. In World War I, our nation saw 117,000 give the ultimate sacrifice. World War II, in which many of my now gone family fought, saw 1 of every 40 soldiers die. Almost one-half million lost in that bloody war alone. In Korea, our nation lost 37,000 and in Vietnam another 58,000. Indelibly etched in my mind is the picture of a veteran with his hand against the Vietnam War Memorial when it first opened in Washington, D.C. In both of the Gulf Wars we have seen over 7000 die for our country. The price has been extremely high. Gold Star Mothers weeping, American Flags draping coffins, and row after row of white crosses in military cemeteries scattered here at home and abroad, all testify to the losses of family and the nation. Are all of these supreme sacrifices worth it? Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Freedom is not free or cheap. Throughout the history of America, outside forces have sought to snatch liberty from us. Had we not had leaders, heroes such as George Washington and Nathan Hale we would simply be vassals under the thumb of a king across the Atlantic. Hale was caught by the British and his last words just before being hanged were, “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” Many children in school are now taught that America is unjust in its founding. I reject that out right. The hand of God is seen at every turn in the founding of America. The Declaration of Independence and our Constitution are beautiful documents, but without those Minute Men and other Patriots willing to fight to the death, those documents would have only served to build fires in the stoves of the British Army. What about WWI and WWII? Who in their right mind would want to live under the German mindset of the early twentieth century? The Nazi’s under Hitler and his henchmen had designs on world domination. They killed and manipulated the masses all for the purpose of controlling the world. Six-million Jews killed and multiplied thousands more besides Jews. Poles, Czechs, the disabled and elderly, all murdered for the dream of a demon possessed mad man. I am glad that we had brave American boys leave the farms and cities and fight so their families and ultimately, we, didn’t have to live under the jackboot heel of the Nazi’s.
Are we perfect as a nation? No, but we are by far the best place on this globe. Spin a world globe and then put your finger on it to stop it. What country did you land? America is easily better. We have some issues but these are constantly being addressed through our elections and the rule of law. Most of the internal conflict these days come from people that seek to make this country just like every other country in the world. They wish to change long held values and what made the country great at its founding. Communist countries build walls to keep their people in their countries. We have to build walls to keep people out. We are that shining city on a hill that President Reagan so eloquently spoke about. This nation is the envy of the world. There are over 7 billion people on this globe called earth and 99% wish they could live in the good old United States of America. The standard of living that our poorest people experience easily out strips the wealthy in the majority of those in other countries. The freedoms God and the forefathers gave us have made us the envy of the world, but don’t ever forget that the very freedom we inherited down through the generations is a direct result of men and women being willing to fight for our way of life, even to the death. This weekend, as you are watching T.V. or driving around. Look for little white crosses across the landscape and on the screen. Each of those crosses represent a soldier that gave you a piece of what you have at this very moment.
Let me share one final thought. There is another memorial that means even more to me than the one I have just written about. The eternal life that I possess is only because of the supreme sacrifice that the Lord Jesus made on my behalf. The eternal life that you possess is only because of His sacrifice on your behalf. Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth (shows or demonstrates) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” This weekend as we talk to others about our nations fallen from our wars, lets also include in the conversation the sacrifice Jesus made. Without Jesus dying on our behalf we would have no eternal life, no liberty, no grace, no mercy, and no hope.
Have a great Memorial Day Weekend.