Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day, I would like to share with you parts of a speech that I was honored to deliver at the Memorial Day Ceremony on May 29, 2006.....

 "I, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  So help me God."

The words I just read to you are the Oath that is recited by an individual enlisting in the United States military.  Many young lives have been sacrificed to sanctify this oath.

On this special day, I wanted to share the History of Memorial Day, and what this day means to me.  Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

This day is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.  Memorial Day 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, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetary.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873.  By 1890, it was recognized by all of the northern states.  The holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war after World War I.  It is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May, though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead.

 In 1915, inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields, Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

          We cherish too, the Poppy red
          That grows on fields where valor led;
          It seems to signal to the skies
          That blood of heroes never dies.

Flag etiquette for the day is half-staff until noon.

United States Marine Corporal Stephen Bixler (from Suffield), age 20, was killed on May 4, 2006, while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province, Araq.  His Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. James Bright said of this young Maine, "He died fearlessly leading and willingly sacrificing his own safety for those around him."  The closing words of Stephen's pastor, Rev. Michael Dolan, at graveside should be heralded from shore to shore: "Do not squander the time given to you by God or the freedom preserved by this Marine's life."

As is tradition, at Marine Corporal Stephen Bixler's interment at Arlington, a Final Roll was called.  Three times his name was called out.  Three times it was met with silence.  His final farewell was the trumpeting of "Taps," the traditional words of which I quote:

Verse 1: Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lakes, From the hills, From the sky, All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.

Verse 2: Fading light, Dims the sight, And a star, Gems the sky, Gleaming bright, From afar, Drawing nigh, Falls the night.

Verse 3: Thanks and praise, For our days, Neath the sun, Neath the stars, Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh.

May we take a moment in prayer today to remember those who have sacrificed unselfishly for this great country of ours, as well as their families who are left behind.  We are the land of the free, because of the brave!  Thank you.

God bless America!