A Day of Remembrance
“This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.”? ? ?- Tamra Bolton ?
"A Veteran, whether active duty, or retired?is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America, for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"? Master Sgt. Michael C. Pe?a is one of the countless soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Michael C. Pena was born in New Gulf, Texas, November 1924.??He joined the U. S. Army as an infantryman in 1941, when he was 16-years-old. He fought in both World War II and the Korean War.
Years after his death, Pena was recognized?for his actions on the evening of Sept. 4, 1950, near Waegwan, Korea, when his unit was fiercely attacked. During the course of the counter-attack, Pena realized that their ammunition was running out, and ordered his unit to retreat. Pena then manned a machine-gun to cover their withdrawal. He single-handedly held back the enemy until morning when his position was overrun, and he was killed.??Pena received the Medal of Honor, March 18, 2014. As?you enjoy your holiday on Monday, please take a moment to remember those who gave their life so that you can enjoy this day.? Better yet, take a moment and say a prayer for those who made the ultimate sacrifice:? ?
Hear Our Prayer This Day
In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts, let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing
You who created us, who sustain us, who call us to live in peace, hear our prayer this day.
Hear our prayer for all who have died, whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone ...
Hear our prayer for those who put the welfare of others ahead of their own and give us hearts as generous as theirs ...
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Hear our prayer for those who gave their lives in the service of others, and accept the gift of their sacrifice ...
Help us to shape and make a world where we will lay down the arms of war and turn our swords into ploughshares for a harvest of justice and peace ...
Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones and let your healing be the hope in our hearts...
Hear our prayer this day and in your mercy answer us in the name of all that is holy.
The peace of God be with you. ?
Jesus said it best in Johns Gospel, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends"?(John 15:13) ?
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Embrace Memorial Day
Embrace the Challenge.
I keep a photo on our holiday meal table of a great uncle of my husband's who was killed in WWII. He existed. I heard stories about him. When you see his young face, it reminds us it's not about the picnic or the parade.
Servant Leader Practitioner of Radical Hospitality
9 个月Thank you for this post . Just this morning as I was laying in bed, praying and reflecting I was thinking of you Rick . I was hoping that you would post on memorial day tribute because your words are so beautiful and thoughtful. And here this morning I get to read your post. Thank you for reminding everybody the importance of memorial day and putting into Christian perspective. May you be blessed for all the blessings that you have given us?