Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day Weekend -
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
(Romans 12:9-13)
This holiday was originally set to honor those who died as a result of battle while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The holiday was made a federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968. Oftentimes, volunteers place American flags in cemeteries to honor their lives.
This day is actually an older tradition that began when people began to strew flowers and decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of this country. This tradition was called "Decoration Day," and occurred when families traveled to the cemeteries where their ancestors were interred to place flowers on their graves, per Decoration Day in the Mountains. Often, large groups of extended families made the trip, religious ceremonies took place and food was served.
As I was growing up, my fairly large family would participate in these traditions too by placing flowers not only on the graves of the fallen soldiers, but also our own loved ones. Afterward we would gather at one of the city parks and have a huge potluck or barbeque. There would be about 35 of us! Many cousins! My Uncle Harold, the only active miliary person in our family, would usually wear his formal uniform for us. It was such an honor to see him in his sailors or Navy uniform!
I miss those days of family gatherings and actually living the holiday. Nowadays, we definitely remember our loved ones that have passed along with the fallen military. We have had a lot of loss in our family in recent years. My mother passed in July of 2021suddenly from a stroke. A few months later my Uncle Harold passed away. In September, 2022 my spouse, Carol, died suddenly. My brothers all live near the gravesites of these beloved and I know they made sure the flowers were placed on those graves as well as our grandparents and aunts of the past. What is missing, is the family gathering. Doesn’t seem to happen anymore. Many of us, like me, are scattered throughout the country. And there is the fact that there aren’t many of the past generations that are still with us. We are the older generation!
I don’t know of any fallen solders in this area and have no loved ones that are near. I have an aunt and uncle in a columbarium in Mesa where I could have placed flowers. Instead, I felt like I was close to God this Memorial Day and needed to spend some time this weekend in reflection of the holiday though prayer. So, I took a trip to the top of Mount Lemmon. What a trip! The air on top was 25 degrees cooler. The Aspen trees glittered in the sun as I drove with my window down enjoying the cool breeze. I had flashbacks to driving in the mountains of Colorado many years ago. At the top of this mountain, Cody and I found a beautiful spot on the side of the mountain to sit. To pray. He loved the scents of nature around him and then finally settled by my side realizing we were going to be sitting for a while.
Sitting with God on the top of the mountain on Memorial Day. Thanking God. Pleading with God. Asking God. Listening to God. After some time, Cody was getting anxious and was telling me that we needed to do something else. I think God has ways of telling us that God has heard us. Cody being ready, was my message that God had indeed heard our little conversation. The rest is up to God.
Thank you, God, for listening. Thank you for a day to reflect and give thanks for those who have come before us and have defended our country and our very lives. Thank you for those whom we love and have passed into the Church Triumphant.
Please be sure to take time in your lives to listen to God and give thanks!
Peace be with You!
Pastor Tony
How is Memorial Day different than Veteran's Day?
Though Memorial Day and Veteran's Day both honor members of the military, they are differentiated by who they honor.
Memorial Day honors those who have died in uniform as a result of battle while Veteran's Day honors all who have served in the nation's armed forces, with the latter holiday particularly focused on living veterans .
Memorial Day is the second of three holidays honoring those connected to the military, following Armed Forces Day.