Monday, May 26, 2014

Will I Ever Be Happy on This Day Again?

Every year you hear someone say "Happy Memorial Day." And why shouldn't they? Every other national holiday we say Happy (fill in the blank).

People have every reason to be happy about Memorial Day. There are great sales, great BBQs, most of them have the day off from work, so why wouldn't they be happy about it?!

I remember being happy on Memorial Day. We all consider it the first day of summer, right?! I remember being on the lake with friends or at the pool or attending a BBQ. And I love to shop. I remember being very aware of the Memorial Day sales I could participate in around my area. But then came war and Memorial Day changed for me.

Death and I were old friends before war came into my life. He took several people from me in my teenage years. Dare I say it, death and I are on good terms. I understand he has a job to do and that he does not discriminate.

Losing someone is never easy, but attending services and memorials of those killed in action it's another level of pain that is so hard to describe. I always thought a 21 gun salute and TAPS was the hardest thing to get through, try a Roll Call at a memorial. There just are no words for the sucker punch to the gut that hits you when the service member you know does not answer that call. 

Then comes dealing with the cards death leaves you. We are now watching children grow up without parents and parents without their children. We are forever united over tragedy and we have had a small part in helping them heal. We are so happy to still a part of their lives, but cannot stand the fact that they have those Gold Star pins to wear.

Our society is so detached from war, most don't even know our service members are even still deployed, much less do they have someone to remember today. In every other war before, almost every household was affected directly by the war. Today you have to play six degrees of separation in some homes to find a service connection.

Maybe one day I will be truly happy again on Memorial Day, but currently the day itself carries a somber reminder that hurts my heart. Today this house will disconnect for a while to remember those who we lost in service. We ask that you do the same.

Here's a list of some of the service members we will be thinking of today. We welcome you to also remember their sacrifice and their families today as well as those who are not listed. 

Garrison Avery
David Babineau
Ethan Biggers
Benjamin Britt
Marlon Bustamante
Kenith Casica
Jason Fegler
Matthew Hunter
Brian Kubik
William Lopez-Feliciano
Tyler MacKenzie
Johnnie Mason
Kristian Menchaca
Joshua Munger
Travis Nelson
Anthony Owens
Blake Russell
Benjamin Smith
Thomas Tucker
Caesar Viglienzone
Andrew Waits
Clarence McSwain
John Trotter
Karl Campbell
Dave Weigle
Dave Stanley
Frank Walkup
Joe Granville
Erick J. Klusacek
Wesley Spraul
Derek McConnell



10 comments:

  1. You're never going to be happy on Memorial Day again because you'll always grieve the loss of all those who've given their lives for our country.
    What amazing words of Scripture! Praying!
    Psalms 139:17-18 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

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  2. The Lord is on your side! Praying hard!
    Psalms 118:4-6 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

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  3. Praying right now!
    Psalms 118:14-16 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

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  4. Your only help comes from the Lord! Praying!
    Psalms 121:1-4 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

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  5. Praying!
    Psalms 121:5-8 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

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  6. Know that I'm continuing to pray!
    1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

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  7. Call upon the Lord! He hears! He answers according to His Will. Praying as always!
    Lamentations 3:55-58 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

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  8. Praying!
    Philippians 3:9-11 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

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  9. Know that I'm always lifting up prayers!
    Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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  10. Praying right now!
    Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

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