Memorial Day, formally known as Decoration Day, is a holiday that was created as an annual day of remembrance for the men and women who have so bravely served, defended, and perhaps died for our country; it is traditionally marked by prayer services, parades, and family gatherings; it is all of those. However, Memorial Day's significance is far greater than many of us can possibly comprehend, so it is imperative that we all must share the burden of this stress that so many of our fellow Americans have witnessed and endured.
Having grown up with a WWII veteran, I was exposed to episodic discussions about the horrors of war. Not surprisingly, however, many of those stories ended when the tenor of the conversation brought my father to tears. Naturally, we didn't pursue the reasons, because we knew that "war is hell", and he had had a glimpse into that dark abyss. He once said to me, "we had to go; it was a war that had to be fought." Knowing my father, it was his sense of compassion for his fellow man and the love of his country that he would even have considered picking up a weapon.
Reflecting on this Memorial Day, I find myself wondering, "will there ever be a day when we all can live in harmony?" I am reminded of the words from "This is My Song", set to the music of Jean Sebelius' Finlandia, and what a gift it would be one day to have peace reign over all lands! Perhaps the more appropriate question then is, "When?" Thank you to all those who have made this sacrifice for blessed are the peacemakers...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDXNHPeRB0k
