My word for May 29th is MEMORIAL
Jay and I took Anna to Girls State yesterday. I don’t think she is excited about it,
but it is a learning experience and a memory in the making. One of the delegate’s jobs before they
left was to help place flags in the cemetery to recognize those who had fought
for our country. This was the
leading up to Memorial Day.
Memorial day was originally called Decoration Day. This was a day of remembrance for those
who had died serving our country.
The history goes back to the women of the south who before the end of
the Civil war decorated the graves of those soldiers who had died while at
battle. In 1867 a hymn was
published “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping” by Nelia L. Sweet. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed
on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan and was first observed on May 30, 1868,
when flowers were placed on Union and Confederate soldiers graves at Arlington
Cemetery. In 1915 Moina Michael wrote the poem, “In Flanders Fields, “ in which
she began as saying, “We cherish
too, the poppy red.” She then came
up with the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day. Still today the red poppies are given to all who will wear
them. Memorial Day is now celebrated the last
Monday in May, which was passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of
1971.
For years Clint Black has been working on a mission to bring
back the remains of soldiers who fought in WWII. While working on this project he came across the picture of
a little girl named Paige who wouldn’t let go of her daddy’s hand as he lined
up with his fellow soldiers. These
soldiers were being deployed to Iraq and Paige knew that she wouldn’t see her
daddy for some time. The
commanding officer allowed Paige to say her goodbye; no one had the heart to
pull her away. Clint Black was so
inspired that he wrote the song, “She Won’t Let Go.” Clint said, “There was just something about seeing that
photo. There in the midst of the
sea of green was a little girl in her colorful dress holding her daddy’s
hand. Her mother was calling her
name to come back, but she wouldn’t let go”. This is where the song began.
As we are sitting in our homes enjoying life, there are
soldiers who are away from their homes and families fighting for our
country. God has giving these
soldiers the ambition to keep His country safe. They have gone to battle for us. Everyday add these men and women to your prayer list, saying
a prayer for their safety and also saying a prayer for their families. Just as the little girl in the picture wouldn’t
let go of her father’s hand, we should never let go of our father’s hand. Hand in hand working together for our
country.
“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow
that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the
plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side,ten thousand
at your right hand, but it will not come near you. . . If you make the Most
High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall
you, no disaster will come near your tent” (Psalm 91:5-7,9,10)
“But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My
times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue
me” (Psalm 31:14-15).
Dear Lord keep these men and women safe from harms way as
they enter the battlefields for us.
Help their families to stay strong and calm during the time when their
loved ones are away. Be with the
children of these soldiers giving them peace in their hearts knowing that You
are with them and their Mom’s or Dad’s.
We thank you for giving us soldiers that will keep us safe, just as You
have kept us safe. During this
journey of 2012 please lower the number of casualties of soldiers and bring
them safely home.
http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html
Memorial Day History
Read about Paige and her dad:
http://jocelyngreen.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/psalms-for-soldiers/
Faith Deployed, Spiritual Support for Military Wives
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