Memorial Day was originally intended to honor the people who died during the Civil War. In 1971 it became a national holiday with the intent to allow family members to decorate the graves of all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation. It is hard to fathom how many people have actually sacrificed to create the America that we enjoy today. Think about the original Pilgrims who risked their lives to escape religious persecution in England. Think about the myriad of immigrants that left the only lives they had ever known to travel to this new land called America. Think about the 1,000,000+ brave men and women who lost their lives in just the Civil War and World War II alone.
Here is an abridged version of a letter that Abraham Lincoln wrote to Mrs. Bixby who lost five sons in the Civil War:
Dear Madam, I have been shown in the files of the war department a statement that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously in the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have paid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln
Warren Buffett says, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone else planted a tree a long time ago.”
This Memorial Day I challenge you to think about all of the sacrifice that has gone into creating this great nation. All of the “Shade” that we enjoy today is only there because there were many trees planted by those that came before us. The best way to show appreciation for the shade that we enjoy is to plant your own trees for those to come. In the words of JFK, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” I thank God that our forefathers were more focused on what sacrifices they could make for our country, rather than fighting over which class of handouts they were entitled to.
Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!