ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL

One of my favorite places is Arlington National Cemetery, across the river from Washington, DC.  When I was stationed in the DC area back in my army days, I would often visit that sacred ground.  The 400,000-plus men, women, spouses, and heroes buried there are a constant reminder of those who have gone before us who were willing to give so that you and I could be free.  Memorial Day is a day set aside each year to honor the men and women of our military who have given their lives for our nation.  In total, counting all wars from the 1770s to the present, our military has suffered close to 1 million killed in action on active duty and a total of approximately 2.9 million wounded, killed, or missing.  Some sacrificed their lives.  Some sacrificed their bodies.  Some gave up relationships and careers, plans for the future.  Many did not get to see their children grow into adulthood.  All for us.  All so that we could be free.  On one of my visits to Arlington 45 years ago, I helped a young lady find the gravesite of her father.  She told the story of how he had died in Vietnam before she was born, and she had never had the opportunity to meet him, and he had never seen her.  We found the place where he was buried, and I left her there to experience the grief I know she was feeling.  It is good to be reminded of the cost of our freedom.  Express your gratitude this season to the families, widows, orphans, and other relatives of those who gave that “Last Full Measure of devotion”.  Pray for those who are currently serving in our military around the world.