A small crowd gathered on the cemetery’s green lawn,
Surrounded by red, white, and blue U.S. flags that waved valiantly from each Military Veteran’s grave.
We gathered to pay respect.
Mourn those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, casualties of war I’d never met.
A twenty-one gun salute blasted the silence, deafened our ears,
And was followed by the somber notes of a Bugler playing Taps.
Misty-eyed, we watched as the seven-year-old son of a deceased soldier helped his mother place a wreath on the War Memorial, then posed in front of the cold, black granite where his father’s name was engraved…
Along side the names of other people who had lived in our town, died in battle.
The crowd sighed while white doves were released and flew like angels heavenward into a grey sky
Where rain clouds shed cool tears on the bereaved shoulders of Gold Star families. www.goldstarfamilyregistry.com
A guest speaker shared words from President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address:
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”
Ceremony over, I walked shy-footed between the graves of Military Veterans.
Row after row…
Headstones lined up like platoons awaiting inspection
Rank, name, military branch, and years on Earth now etched on flat, stone tablets instead of metal dog tags.
Life summarized in epitaphs, religious faith professed in symbols.
I touched my red Poppy.
In remembrance of those who died for our nation in the name of freedom.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
I touched my Cross necklace.
In remembrance of Christ who died to set men free from the power and penalty of sin.
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13-14)
In remembrance…I was touched.
Persuaded to love and serve others for the greater good.
Encouraged by the still voices of those who’ve gone before me whispering in the morning breeze,
“Carry on.”
On Monday morning, I looked at my calendar and drew a diagonal line through each day of the previous week.
Even In This 