Memorial Day 2009

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

"All gave some, some gave all."

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY, dear brothers and sisters. I sometimes get confused as to when Memorial Day, formerly Decoration Day, really is. The real date is May 30th, and I try hard to remember that as in 1982 Dolores and I were married. However, it is more than just our wedding anniversary that I want to remember, it is all those who have gone on before us. So today, just be with me as my mind does some going back ... Remember that today is Monday and that is the day we pray for our leaders, our President, Vice President and all those in power over us. It is also the day we pray for our veterans and their families and our current military and all their families, and also all those in your local communities that work hard to keep us safe.

MEMORIAL DAY 2009: Last Friday, Dolores and I went to the cemeteries where our parents are buried. Dolores' parents' bodies lie in the Camp Hill Cemetery while mine are at Rolling Green Cemetery. Each of us had one brother, and both are buried next to our parents in those grave sites. At Camp Hill Cemetery, we looked at her family plots as a lot of her family are buried there. We put out flags on the graves, regardless if they were in the military or not. You see, when we had Decoration Day, it was a day to decorate the graves, and while it is thought mainly for the military, it is really a day to remember.

This year again we are a NATION AT WAR, and with the type of war we are fighting, this war might just go on until the Lord returns. Going back in time to wars of the past, we would find that not only did our troops wear uniforms, so did the ones who we were fighting against. You also in the most part knew who your enemies were as they wore uniforms of their country. I need to tell you that I was never in the military, and I will also tell you that I am in love with a veteran, yes, my dear wife Dolores is an Air Force Veteran and also a veteran of the 193rd from Middletown Pennsylvania. So I thank her today for answering the call and salute her for it.

Today I want to remember all those who served in our military over the years, and I want to bring out just a few who served in areas you might not expect. When we think of our military we think of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Most often we also remember the Coast Guard, but we forget about one group of people that from times in the past and to today are one of the most important ... I want to thank all of our military and salute them all, for all of those who served gave something, and some of them gave it all, giving up their lives for our freedom. Think about it, for if not for those brave men and women, those who protest the wars they are fighting could not stand and protest ... and more than likely we would be hiding in some cellar to worship our Lord Jesus. So today I want to thank the proud, and they should be, the proud men and women of the United States Army, the United States Navy (son Glenn and daughter-in-law Dian, both Navy veterans), the United States Air Force (Dolores), the United States Marines, the United States Coast Guard, and the men and women of all the reserves and State Guard units, many of whom are serving now in Iraq. Also please remember and salute all the men and women of the MERCHANT MARINES.

We also want to thank those veterans that are living today, please do not let this pass, when you see a man or woman in uniform, please walk up to them, extend a hand and thank them for their service to our country. Remember this, our military is all voluntary, meaning they do not need to be there. Most in the service today signed up since the war on terror was started, and folks, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA did not start this war. You do remember September 11, 2001 don't you? Even before that we had bombings right here in our country right at the buildings that came down on 9/11/2001. What I am saying is that while our men and women of the military do not like war, they knew what they were getting into when they signed up. And the war on terror is ongoing, as we saw just last week when four young men turned Muslim, three while in jail, tried to bomb a Jewish Temple. Our CIA and FBI were right on top of it. So please thank these people also.

MEMORIAL DAY 2009 is also a day to remember some others beside our military who have gone in the past. Just out of high school I had a good friend "Barry Karper" die in a police car while in pursuit of a stolen car right on Second Street in Harrisburg Pa. The thief, and two of Harrisburg's finest men in blue died that night. We can look way back in our lives and think of many people who have gone on before us, and today we should remember them. Our grandparents, our parents, family members, and friends. So passed long ago, and in my case, one passed this past Saturday when Mary Jane, my dear friend from the Bridges who still would play the piano for us once in a while went home to Jesus. So we remember all of these and we give thanks and praise to all of them and to all who lived and even died for our freedom, I want to thank one more than any. Yes, One who also did not need to do what He did, but He did what His Father in Heaven wanted Him to do. So today on this,

MEMORIAL DAY 2009, I want to remember, and give thanks to our LORD JESUS, who died on the cross for us, He died fighting a war that is still going on, the war of good over evil. And He died so that we who have stains of sins can get them removed. So folks, on this Memorial Day, let us just pause to give praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for what He has done for each of us. Today, whatever your sins have been, as a sin is a sin, you can ask and you will be forgiven.

In our military we find that "all gave some and some gave all" also holds true for our Lord Jesus who gave it all for our personal freedom. Folks, right now let me tell you that FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, it cost a lot of lives ... a lot of pain, a lot of injury, so today let's really appreciate what our men and women of our military and our police have done to keep us safe, and above all let us remember JESUS for today He lives, and He will come back and get us out of this mess. PRAISE YOU JESUS ... and when He died on the cross He said these words to His Father in Heaven about His enemies who put Him on the cross ... "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23: 34 (NIV) And right there on the spot, Jesus also said this to one who stood up for Jesus on those last minutes of life ... "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (NIV)

Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for men and women who were and still are willing to die for the freedom of us in the United States of America. Today, I also want to thank You for Jesus who died for me, to set me free from, well, Lord from myself. I also want to thank You for MJ and ask you to tell her, I will catch up with her someday. Lord, today I ask that You bring peace to our nation, and Lord, we have many who still want to kill us and one is on the rampage today as I even pray and that is North Korea, so Father I pray today for those evil leaders to fall on their faces and come to Jesus, I pray for their souls. Lord, save them as You protect us till the day our Lord Jesus returns on Your orders. In the name of Jesus, I pray ... Amen.

Go forth, remembering Jesus and all who have gone on before us, take time to have a nice day, to SHARE YOUR BLESSINGS, and maybe do the American thing and eat a burger or a dog ... and do it right with mustard and onions ... love ya, dan.