Ministers Blogs
“May we never forget!”
Categories: WorshipTonk Talk
Why do we have Memorial Day? Well after the Civil War, people in the South created special memorials to remember the southern soldiers who died. These were referred to as “Confederate Memorial Days.” In the North it was called “Decoration Day” and most southerners did not recognize this day as it honored northern soldiers who died in the Civil War or as some called it “The War of Northern Aggression.” It was only after World War II that it became known as Memorial Day and was intended to honor all fallen soldiers who gave their life for their country.
The modern Memorial Day observance looks a lot different than in the early years of its founding. Today Memorial Day has expanded to a three-day weekend; known now as the start of the summer season. Often Memorial Day weekend is centered around family gatherings, cookouts, and picnics. Some people have even expanded the idea of Memorial Day to include visiting and placing flowers on their loved one’s graves.
Yet, the idea of honoring our fallen war heroes seems to be slowly fading away. Like the flowers that are placed at one’s tomb slowly rot, or the marble monuments that are effaced by time. Our nation seems to be forgetting the price for our freedom.
Inscribed on the Korean War Memorial are the words, “Freedom Is Not Free.” We must never forget that our freedom to gather as families, to have picnics, and even go to a cemetery to visit our loved one’s grave, came with a price. Someone’s son or daughter, someone's father or mother, someone’s loved one died so we could enjoy the freedom we have today. “Freedom is Not Free.”
This Memorial Day is also a reminder of another memorial that takes place every first day of the week, and that is the memorial of our Lord’s death upon the cross. It too is a reminder that our spiritual freedom is not free; it comes with a price; the blood of our Lord (Rev. 1:5). As we gather around the Lord’s table and take the Lord’s Supper may we never forget the one who said, “This do in remembrance of me” (Lk. 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24,25).
The Lord’s Supper will always stand as a constant reminder of the memory of Christ’s death and return. The only way to bring it down is to forget and neglected to do it.
May we never forget those precious souls who died for our freedoms and may we always remember our Lord’s death until He returns, by partaking of the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week.
In Christ’s Service, Mark T. Tonkery
