When speaking about our soldiers who died in service to our country, General George S. Patton once said that it is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, he said, we should thank God that such men lived.
And so this weekend as each of us takes the time to remember and to honor the men and women of the American Armed Forces who have died in service to our country, let us offer prayers of thanksgiving for their courage and bravery, for their devotion and patriotism, let us thank God that when called to serve, they stepped forward and said “Here I am.”
Let us learn from their example, let us offer comfort to their families, and let us honor their memories not only with prayers and speeches and parades, but with our own acts of courage to serve and protect the country that they died for.
May the Holy One makes us worthy of the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf, and may the souls of those who died find peace and shelter in the presence of our Creator. We pray that the Source of all life bring solace and comfort to their families, and may the time come soon when our country is blessed with peace. May this be God’s will. Amen.
