Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
On this Veterans Day, it serves us well to be reminded of the origins of this holiday which differs from Memorial Day, which is commemorated in May. Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is primarily set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime.
It was on October 8, 1954, that President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation calling upon all citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954, as Veterans Day. It was his earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry would join hands to ensure proper and widespread observance of this day. And so we pay tribute to all of our living Veterans who served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. This devotion is dedicated to you: our fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends. We salute you and thank you for your service to our country. For all those who served—either in wartime or peacetime—and have departed this life, we honor them and remember the sacrifices they made to secure our freedoms.
When news of the final victory in Europe came on May 8, 1945, citizens of all faiths throughout our country flocked to churches where special services of thanksgiving were held. At the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, Peter Marshall, who would soon become the Chaplain of the Senate, offered these words from his sermon entitled, “Dedication:”
“We Americans have never fought our wars just for ourselves and our own freedom. We have always contended for the God-given inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that belong to every human being throughout the world. But we Americans would be guilty of the worst kind of hypocrisy if we did not first seek to live up to these standards in our society. Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn, the chaplain giving the sermon of dedication of the Fifth Marine Division cemetery on Iwo Jima put it in profoundly simple terms: ‘We dedicate ourselves…to live together in peace the way they fought and are buried in this war… Here lie officers and men, Negros and whites, rich men and poor…together… Among these men there is no discrimination. No prejudices. No hatred. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy. Any man among us, the living, who fails to understand that, will betray those who lie here dead.’”
As we recall the enormous sacrifices of our living veterans who served in WWII, as well the men and women in wars our nation has fought since then, may we give thanks for their commitment, courage, their selfless service, their sacrifice of creature comforts and the companionship of loved ones. May we live with the highest and purest form of democracy. Let us examine our hearts and commit to a new Dedication.
Dear Heavenly Father, we beg Your forgiveness as we, citizens of this great nation, have betrayed those who lie in hallowed grounds, and we have squandered their hard-fought victory for our freedoms. We have failed to properly honor our living veterans for whom today’s holiday is named. We have also forsaken true democracy. Return us to being God-fearing and God-honoring people. Help us recognize that apart from You there is nothing we can do to repair the divisions and unify the spirit of our country. Have mercy on us, O God. We ask and pray in the name of the One who reconciles all men to You. Amen.
~ painting by Stevan Dohanos
