Remember

This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend. Today, I assisted with the placement of flags in an area of Arlington National Cemetery known as Chaplain's hill. It was a moving experience to be able to say that I had the privilege to render this honor.



Memorial Day was proclaimed May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, then the Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. His general Order #11 included these words:

"...If other eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan..."

Yesterday, I had the privilege of providing the invocation for the Memorial Day Remembrance for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was a beautiful day, with ceremony outside in full view of all around. I shared these words with those who gathered to honor those who have served:

Almighty God
as we gather together today in this continuing time of struggle and conflict
to remember all who served and sacrificed that our nation might always be free, grant that this time will be a time of remembrance and reflection

as we remember, grant us wisdom

as we remember, grant us hope

as we remember, grant us resolve

as we remember those who served with honor,

grant that we may be inspired to such service

as we remember those who go forth at our nation’s call,

may we recall their families who remain behind

as we remember the valor and the glory,

may we remember the wounded and the healing.

as we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice,

grant that we never forget their loved ones who grieve.

today as we remember the necessary cost for freedom, we are bold to pray:
grant us victory, may freedom endure,
and may our children and our children’s children know peace.