REMEMBERING OUR HEROES
Saturday, May 26th, 2012
BY PASTOR MIKE HENDERSON (US. ARMY RETIRED)
First Baptist Church Springfield, Illinois
I could not tell you when the focus of Memorial Day shifted from remembering our fallen heroes and those who survived and supported them in some military capacity to just a three day weekend full of hedonism for some, family time for many and R & R for others. But it has. Statistics tell us that only 7%1 of Americans will actually celebrate it for its true purpose, remembering our veterans, and up to 80%2 are not familiar with its true meaning. Do I have a dog in the fight? Yes. I come from a long line of Military Veterans that have fought in every major war since before America’s history. Does that mean I am surprised or even angered because of the statistics? No to both questions; here is why. First of all those who do celebrate it have good reason to do so.
They may have lost a veteran, know someone who has or just have a deep patriotism for America. Others just see it as another holiday and there is no real driving push to see it as any other way. Morality and Ethic are the two driving factors behind all good purpose and reason. Our culture has shifted so far to the left that today’s morality no longer reflects good reasoning and purpose. When I was growing up you celebrated Memorial Day because there was a hallowedness that made it a special day. Today, for the majority, there is no hallowedness. So, although it is very sad, it does not surprise me that it has become for most just a three day weekend to start summer festivities.
Today I want to remember all the troops from time immemorial that have fought and supported the life that we have been so graciously given in the USA. War is usually the result of some narcissistic behavior of a power warlord whose desire is to oppress and suppress the masses into his control, whether on their own soil or the sovereign soil of another country.
