Usually, in my weekly rambling, I discuss life here on the farm. I’ve chatted with you about our farm activity and covered everything from smelling cow’s breath to hauling calves in with the skid steer. I’ve let you in on just how often we use that skid steer and you are probably sick of hearing about it. I’ve mentioned the many chores we complete taking care of our calves, heifers and cows, what it takes to prepare the land for planting season and what occurs during harvesting what we had planted.
Every now and then, you’ve read about us raising a couple of pigs and quite a while ago, I discussed my chicken venture. The litter of puppies we raised for a season produced a couple of columns. I wrote about the benefits of keeping fit and healthy as long as possible. Through it all, I’ve always felt grateful for what we have been given on loan from the good Lord. Daily, I’m filled with gratitude for the freedom to live where we do and to farm our land in peace.
This week, I’d like to take a moment to honor our veterans and those enlisted in active duty, for without them we would not have the freedom to choose how and where we live. Our service men and women sacrificially, and many times with great price, have served this magnificent country.
I love to watch those video clips that surface every now and again where the family gets a surprise visit home from one of their loved ones who are currently serving our country. Great sobs and wrap-around hugs abound. I cannot imagine turning to see one of my loved ones, unexpectedly, safe and sound and within grabbing distance. It must be simply overwhelming.
Wondering just when and how Memorial Day came into existence, I researched a little (www.usmemorialday.org) and found that, “Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in his General Order No. 11. ‘The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,’ he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.”
How sad to find out that there are many graves of fallen soldiers left unattended! The same website went on to say that, “traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years and many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions of the day. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades.
“There are a few exceptions. On the Thursday before Memorial Day, 1,200 soldiers of the U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 20,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.”
Such dignity and solemn respect that displays! This Memorial Day let us all remember to thank past and present military personnel, and to thank our Heavenly Father for all our members of the Armed Forces — every single one, and especially remembering those who have given their life to ensure the freedoms that we so often take for granted.
Heavenly Father: We thank You for the service men and women who died protecting our great land. Help us never to forget. Help us to always remember and in so doing, honor their sacrifice. Put Your hedge of protection around our present military as they put their life on the line to protect us and preserve our freedom. Wrap Your loving arms around their waiting families. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ precious Name we pray. Amen.
(“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2)
