Honoring the Fallen – Why Christians Today Should Observe a Traditional Memorial Day
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. As we approach Memorial Day weekend, I want to speak to you not about the holiday as it is often observed today—with backyard barbecues, retail sales, and the beginning of summer—but as it was kept in the United States some sixty years ago. In the mid-1960s, Memorial Day (still widely called Decoration Day by many) fell solemnly on May 30 every year. Families, churches, and entire communities paused. They visited cemeteries, decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, flags, and wreaths, attended memorial services, and offered prayers for permanent peace. Businesses in many towns closed. Parades honored the dead with dignity rather than mere spectacle. It was a day of remembrance, gratitude, and sober reflection on sacrifice. Why should conservative Christians today recover and observe this traditional spirit? Because Scripture calls us to remember, to honor sacrifice, and to give thanks to God for the freedoms secured by tho...