Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
(From the United States National Anthem)
Recently some of our friends came down to be with us on Memorial Day weekend. We generally try to get to the beach and stuff during this weekend but we have not really done much in the recent years, partly because the last state we were in did not have much in the way of Memorial Day memorials. But this year we decided to go to something special, a Memorial Day commemoration on a battle ship in our town.
Having never been to such a special memorial none of us really knew what to expect but what began as a whim ended up turning to something I'll remember for awhile. Since it was a memorial to remember those that have died in battle or given their lives in the service of our country, it was only customary to have the Army, Navy, Marine and Coast Guard present. So, flag bearers from all the services greeted us at the gangplank of the battleship.
From then on the eving was full of American flags, patriotism and remembrances first for those who fought so valiantly for the continual freedom of America and then for those continuing to fight for freedom in the world.
As the official ceremony began a military band played the National Anthem. As I put my hand to my heart, in order to respect the country I love, I could not help notice a very sweet man who had retired from the service. As many years it had been since he had served, he still put his hand up in a wonder full salute to the Flag. And as he did so I could not help feel pride for my country and a sense of thanks for all this man had done to keep me/ America safe. It was a wonderful thing to remember such men who give/gave thier lives, and time to serve the country many of us call home.
At the apex of the evening a much revered general took the podium and reminded many of us of what memorial day is all about. As he said: It is not about the hamburgers we eat or the family time we can have but the important thing on memorial day is to remember all those who have fought, died and conquered for our country in order that we can be safe.
It seems that we often don't remember these people, or even seem to care about what they are doing overseas because "it does not affect us" but in the end I do believe that it is important to remember all they do for us as Americans. Even if some of us do not agree about certain wars or battles it is still important to remember that men fight valiently and give thier lives and time so that we can be free. Whether we realize it or not what they do affects everyone one of us, everyday. For in their hands and ours is our freedom; and such a thing as freedom is not to be thought of lightly, for it is worth fighting and dying for!
So, with all of that said, and a lot of my patriotism added in, they ended the evening with a gun salute for all those who have perished in war.
As the night ended with a bang we left as we had come but we did not leave emty handed for in our hearts we had gained something greater than hambergurs or hotdogs, we gained a surer sence of the price of our freedom, unbridled thanks for our service men, and overwhelming pride for our country.
So, all I can say now is: May God bless America and may we continue to Trust in Him!
In ending, I wanted to post the National Anthem of our country as I reminder of our wonderful history and hopeful future as a nation. If you do have time I would suggest that you read the entire anthem, as there are messages in it later on that are quite powerful.
The National Anthem of the United States of America
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Note: I did not come up with this anthem and do not own the copyright of it, if there is one.
