Memorial Day: Why Did They Die?

Over this Memorial Day Weekend, I was listening to someone reporting about the origin of the Memorial Day holiday. I had either not known or forgotten that, officially, it was started as Decoration Day after the Civil War, to commemorate those who died in combat. Yet, there is a similar, but even more poignant, story that precedes the official call for memorializing the Civil War soldiers who died.

While historians are still trying to untangle the relationship, if any, between the two major post-bellum beginnings of this commemoration of Civil War dead, let it suffice to say that, the decisions to proceed with the memorials and celebrations seem to have been independently inspired. Irrespective of any official historical perspective, together, both demonstrate a call for personal and national acknowledgment of those who have paid the proverbial "ultimate price" as they fought for our God-given freedoms.

The following report is very interesting and reminds us of the need to honor and respect each other, even when there are times that demand a need to fight to the death for what is right, such as the Principles that established our constitutional freedoms. We must be careful, before God, that we not idly praise the dead and decorate their graves, yet neglect our own duty to study, honor, serve, and defend our Constitution, and be willing to lay down our own lives in that same selfless service, even as Jesus Christ did for all of us... BUT, our fight must be for the right reason, not just any and every politicians' whim.

http://www.vox.com/2016/5/30/11796788/memorial-day-history-african-americans

Always remember, there is One who has laid down His life for all of us that we might be eternally free, for God offers His freedom to everyone who is interested in truth.