Long before the expression "old school" became fashionable, older fellas, like my own dad, referred to Memorial Day as Decoration Day. For them, it wasn't so much about a three day holiday weekend, but about honoring the dead.
Special focus was given and honor extended to those who had given their lives in service to their country in the military forces. Town parades began at the cemetery where small America flags were placed on the graves of those ultimate patriots. Things were clearer then, it seems. It was Decoration Day and decorating the graves of fallen heroes was the primary task. Then, with proper duty accomplished, came the parades, the red-white-blue streamers on bicycles, and family picnics.
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and
keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home
and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly
grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give
them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant
them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home
and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly
grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give
them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant
them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the Book of Common Prayer
No comments:
Post a Comment