Dear Father,
today is a day to remember the fallen heroes, the ones that gave their lives in every generation to protect citizens and their freedoms, even the citizens and freedoms of other countries’ citizens. I know we like to get together, grill meat, have fun with family and friends. Somehow, I think we should do something.. like maybe praying for the families who have lost brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, relatives who as they say, paid the ultimate price. “No greater love has a man than this, than he lay down his life for his friends,”
I don’t know if Jesus was thinking of soldiers in that moment, but it’s certainly true that they sacrificed their lives, even for us, strangers to them.
God, please comfort those who lost loved ones today, and let us remember and honor those who died in the service. Let us be grateful and compassionate toward the living as well, although this holiday focuses on remembering those who have departed. Thank you for their sacrifice, and help us do all we can to promote justice and freedom in our land, and treat veterans with respect and honor and kindness. Again, I know it’s memorial day and not veteran’s day, but I don’t know how we can ever repay the fallen soldiers. Perhaps we can’t, but maybe, by pride and love for country, by compassion for the weak, by charity for the needy, repay a very small portion of that debt.