They Died for Us

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President Abraham Lincoln dedicated the national cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with a two-minute speech. In that famous address, he said that to preserve America’s freedoms, those buried there “gave the last full measure of devotion.”

Today, we pause to show appreciation for men and women in the military who’ve given their lives for our freedoms. We do so by placing flags on their graves, attending ceremonies of tribute, and recalling personal memories.

Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Arlington Cemetery

One of today’s venues for observing Memorial Day will be the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. There are 400,000 graves on Arlington’s 624 acres of land. The most famous is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Since 1937, the remains in the tomb have been guarded around the clock by The Old Guard, the nation’s longest serving infantry unit. The constant guarding of that tomb is one of America’s best tributes to our fallen war heroes.

The remains of an unidentified soldier from WWI was placed in the tomb in 1921. In 1958, the bodies of soldiers from WWII and Korea were added. The Vietnam War was represented from 1984 to 1998 when the remains were identified.

A Road to Remembrance

In Iowa, the state where I live, we honor Merle Hay. A major road in the capital city of Des Moines bears his name. Located along that road and using his name are the Merle Hay Auto Mile, Merle Hay Mall, Merle Hay Family Practice, Animal Medical Clinic of Merle Hay, and Merle Hay Funeral Home.

The road used to be 58th Street. The city council renamed it in 1917, less than three weeks after Iowa’s native son, Merle Hay became the state’s first casualty in WWI. Also along Merle Hay Road, near Aurora Avenue, sits a 16-ton memorial boulder.

An Empty, Jerusalem Grave

The men and women in uniform who’ve died for our country sacrificed to help us retain the freedoms that have made America strong for 240 years. Those men and women deserve all the honor they receive. Likewise,  Jesus came to earth knowing ahead of time that He would die for our spiritual freedoms. Jesus has earned the highest honor.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8, NLT).

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV).

“Most assuredly, I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24, NKJV).

We decorate and honor the graves holding the bodies of those who gave their lives on the battlefield. We rejoice at Jesus’ empty tomb.

We recall Jesus’ sacrifice for us every time we take communion. “Do this,” He said, “in remembrance of Me.” We’re surrounded by other reminders—crosses, Bibles, church buildings, and the evidence of changed lives—which serve as constant memorials of God’s Son who died to bring us freedom.

The Road Ahead

1. We should be thankful for all who, through the decades, valued American freedoms enough to stand against powers wanting to rob us of them, even giving their lives to retain our freedoms.
2. We owe a great debt to Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins. He fulfilled His mission. We will never be able to repay Him for securing our spiritual freedoms. But He expects our allegiance. He wants us to faithfully follow His teachings and live in the freedoms He came to give us.

Further Fuel:  I John 4:14; Philippians 2:8-11.