Memorial Day

Today was a beautiful day in East Tennessee. The temperatures were more moderate than they have been (low 80's) and the skies were blue with hardly a cloud in the sky until afternoon, when we had a sudden cloud burst.

Wanda called earlier in the day and it was fun to talk with her and she reminded me of a few Memorial Days when we were in Germany, trips to Verdunne, Bastogne, and Luxembourg. I had a chance to walk down memory lane as I recalled the first time I visited Verdunne with my parents and brothers, as a teen. Verdunne, France was the site of horrific fighting during World War I and has deep ruts and craters that are camouflaged by the heavy forest that is encroaching upon this hallowed ground. It wasn't until years later when Rich and I took the kids to see it that I could fathom the significance of this cratering of the earth - that these were the pock marks of heavy artillery, hand grenades, and bombs - the scars of human struggle against tyranny and domination - the fight for freedom. It was gratifying to watch my children have the same reaction that me, my brothers and parents had when we saw all the graves and walked through the memorial - but the real horror of war became became even more clear to us, and to all who still visit, when we saw a large marble structure, shaped like a coffin, with sides and ends made of glass, wherein the remains of all of those for whom there was no ability to identify, their arms, legs, fingers, skulls, ribs, feet are displayed. I cannot even imagine what it was like to pick up the pieces of their mangled bodies that littered this sacred ground and to place them in that tomb. It is at once both grotesque and humbling. I don't think there is even a way to know how many men are entombed there. It is a stark reminder of the price of war. How many sons, dads, brothers, uncles, and even grandfathers paid the ultimate price?

Over the course of my years in Europe we visited Bastogne many times. It was the town at the heart of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, liberated by the blood of American soldiers and, still to this day, the people of Bastogne honor them, those who so valiantly sacrificed themselves for them. Truly, the Savior's words, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" ring so true here. When I consider the real cost of so many lives to liberate so many people I am in awe of their courage, their dedication, their humanity.

A trip to Luxembourg is always a sobering reminder of the price that so many have paid. Thousands of white granite headstones, row after row after row, with small American flags at the base, each denoting the life given on behalf of our nation and our people. It would seem a small thing to stop and remember their sacrifice on Memorial Day.

The other day we were driving through Knoxville and a car in front of us had a license plate that indicated the owner was a "gold star" mom. That alone caught my attention - here was someone who knew first hand the sacrifice of her beloved son, given in the line of duty and love. Another bumper sticker also caught my attention though. It read, "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran." It was a sobering reminder of how many men and women, over the course of our history, have contributed to securing my freedoms and my way of life. And it was also a stark reminder of how many people around the world owe their lives and freedoms to our country and its' military as well.

Marsha and Blair had driven up from Albany, Georgia for the weekend and we had a great time with them. Yesterday we took a trip out to the cemetery that Mom Bainbridge was buried in and put flowers on the grave and discussed such things as whether or not to plant permanent miniature rose bushes there and put a bench nearby.

Today Rich had the idea to go and visit the National Cemetery in Knoxville and we all decided to go. Many, many of the men interred there died during the Civil War, in battles in the area. Men and women from the Spanish American War, World War I and II, the Korean War, the Viet Nam War, and from our current, ongoing wars are represented in this cemetery. Each grave was marked with a small American flag. We had the opportunity to remember and to be grateful for their service. And, indeed, I had the opportunity to remember how many of the people I love have given service to our nation in the armed forces. I wish to thank them and to honor them. Both Rich and I have uncles, Uncle Romanus and Uncle Gale who lost their lives in battle. Our fathers both served. Two of Rich's brothers and his sister have served in the Navy, Rich served in the Air Force, our son, Joey, currently serves in the Air Force and our other two sons - Robert, served in the Army, and Dan currently serves in the Air Force.

When I was a teen I sang in the ward choir. One year we sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic. It was a stirring rendition and I especially loved the third verse:
In the beauty of the lilies,
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom
That transfigures you and me.
As he died to make men holy,
Let us live to make men free,
While God is marching on.
I am reminded of the promises that the Lord has made to the people who inhabit this great land. I know that it is only by our righteousness that we can secure these blessings and it seems to me that we are about to careen off a cliff if something doesn't happen soon to help us remember our Lord and his commandments. Perhaps the thing that has to happen is for us to live to make men free. Perhaps we do that in some measure by serving in the armed forces. But in reality - we do that by living and doing as our Father in Heaven wants us to, by sharing the gospel, and becoming a force for good in our homes, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our nation. Each of us can do that. Each of us must do that. Because, while so many in the world do not believe in God or in His statutes - the reality is that He is marching on - and His judgments are sure - and we, who have been so blessed by the gospel and the atonement of our Savior can give our lives to help others become free to choose liberty and eternal life.