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 Memorial Day, on the other hand, has a much
broader purpose. We honor of those who have or are currently
protecting our freedoms by serving in the military and potentially
lay their very lives on the line each day, this day's primary focus
is to remember the men and women who died while serving in the
country’s Armed Forces.
On Monday morning, May 28, 2018 a Memorial Day Ceremony took place
at the Lincoln American Legion Post 263.
The day began and ended with a prayer of blessing by Veteran
Advocate, Joe Schaler.
To a crowded room with people standing in the back, incoming
American Legion Commander Bob Sullivan introduced Pastor Dan
McQuality of Grace Lutheran Church in Lincoln.
Pastor McQuality spoke to the community about Memorial Day being a
“difficult day, a painful day. Especially to those who have served
in combat this day stirs up memories of people that we love and
their lives are now gone. It’s also a good day. It’s a good thing,
an honorable thing, a noble thing that we bring light to the memory
of those who have laid down their life for us.”
Pastor McQuality went on to tell a story about his desire in high
school to serve his Lord and Savior in some way, and to be one of
the few and proud and become a United States paratrooper.
He later found himself in Saudi Arabia and then Iraq for the ground
war.
In one instance, working as a combat medic McQuality got a call that
there had been an explosion and they needed medics. By the time he
got to where the call had gone out, he found out that a soldier, he
had previously met and neglected to tell about Christ had died. He
knew at that moment that Memorial Day would never be the same for
him again.
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If he had a second chance McQuality would have done
things differently.
He observed that even those who have not served in the military are
affected deeply on Memorial Day, saying that many know someone “from
their home town that didn’t make it back. Maybe it’s personal
because it was your father, your uncle, or maybe, even, a son. So
when we look back on this day it is a difficult day, a painful day,
but it is good for us to remember. It is necessary for us to
remember those who have fallen."
He continued by observing that many live with
regrets. Many think they aren’t worth very much, their life has
little value. Yet, “when we were utterly helpless, Christ came at
just the right time and died for us sinners” (Romans 5:6, NLT). In
order for us to see the value in our lives “God gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).
McQuality said because of this we know the worth of a fallen
soldier. We can see that their life was valuable. They laid down
their life for our freedom. “This day is dedicated to those who have
fallen. May their memory and their sacrifice be honored by us. May
God bless their sacrifice for us.”
To close out the ceremony, C. Wayne Schrader, sang his signature
song, God Bless America. He was joined by Leslie Bennett, who had
started the day with the Star Spangled Banner.
As the song says, “God Bless America, my home sweet home.”
[Lisa Ramlow]
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