Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be Thy Name.
We, your children, come with very grateful hearts for all You have done for us as individuals and as citizens of this great nation. We recognize it is because of Your Grace and the sacrifice of so many that we can call ourselves Americans and can be a part of the most blessed nation in the world.
On this Memorial Day enable us to remember.
To remember those who have given their all for the values we hold as Americans. To remember those who have returned with wounds so physically and emotionally deep, that they may never be the same as before.
May we sympathize with those who will never see the birth of their child, their child’s graduation, see their daughter as the beautiful bride, or stand with their handsome son as the groom. May we also sympathize with the many who will never hold a grandchild, cruise the oceans, or live to see old age.
Your Word says, “No greater sacrifice can be given than to give one’s life for his friends.”
That is what so many have done. They have given their lives for their country, for the freedom and values we hold so dear.
Father, as we remember on this memorial day, help us join with the grief stricken families that live every day with the sorrow their loss has brought. May we who live in freedom bow our heads and grieve for the many that have died in war and out of our grief we urgently pray for peace and the end of war.
Heavenly Father, Creator of this world, as we remember this day, let us also be thankful for the men and women who are willing to lay it all on the line and die so their families and friends can live in one of greatest countries on earth.
Help us to remember with sincere gratitude those who’s final resting place may be in one of our beautiful national cemeteries or in a small family plot as well as those whose resting place has yet to be found.
Oh God, our Help in Ages Past, on this Memorial Day we must also give homage to You, upon who’s truth and love this nation was founded.
Out of the Great Awakening came our Founding Fathers who were willing to give up fortunes and their lives if necessary so that a people could be free to worship as they chose and to live their lives in freedom as well. Thank you for the people who desired to establish laws and life according to Your Precious Word; to govern with fairness to all, rich and poor alike; to give all an equal chance for success. And Father that gives us reason to join with those, our deceased brothers and sisters, to give thanks You give us a reason not just to live but a cause for which to die.
Those we remember today died for a purpose.
It was not to further Communism, Nazism, or some dictator’s or emperor’s fancy but to provide freedom to the oppressed and hope for the hopeless. We thank You that those who died can truly be counted with those who returned as victors over such oppression and hopelessness.
They may have lost their lives and all that goes within the years they did not have, but they won the wars by fighting for rights and dignity of the individual. We remember, Father, our freedom and our prosperity today is a product of their victory even in death.
God Bless those who have given their lives; God bless their families who grieve, and God bless America that we will never become a nation like most others. May we hold close and dear the values for which our men and women died.
On this Memorial Day we pray for peace in America, Israel, and the Middle East. We pray for the protection of our soldiers today who are in harm’s way. We pray the world will know You are the True and Living God.
In the Name of the One who died and rose again, Jesus Christ. AMEN
Gil Arthur
Pastor, FBC DeQuincy
Lt. Colonel
Army Guard
State Chaplain
Recently retired
