By James Strand
Memorial Day Tribute to Our Veterans
The battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania occurred 151 years ago on July 1-3, 1863. This picture shows the horrors of war and the ultimate sacrifice many soldiers have given for our great country. Abraham Lincoln dedicated a national cemetery on these grounds in November of 1863. I pray that the truth in Lincoln’s words continue ring true. He said that the sacrifice of these soldiers would cause a rebirth of freedom in our nation. Please take a moment this Memorial Day and thank God for the many sacrifices from the men and women in our military that have allowed us to have the freedom to enjoy this holiday in their honor!
The battle that took place in Gettysburg is considered by many historians to be the turning point of the Civil War. The United States of America owes its existence to the many men and women who have given their lives during wars to preserve the constitutional freedoms and rights that we now enjoy. Jesus Christ died for us because he loved us. Jesus Christ said,
No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (HCSB)
The principal of love that Jesus modeled by giving his life for others applies to our fallen soldiers, too. These soldiers had great love for their country and friends when they gave their lives so others could continue to enjoy their constitutional freedoms and rights.
Here are the last few words of his Gettysburg Address, which became one of the most famous speeches ever given. Notice Lincoln was not ashamed to mention God in public!
“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. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from this earth.”
The Entire Gettysburg speech is below:
Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation: conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war. . .testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated. . . can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war.
We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. 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. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from this earth.
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, given November 19, 1863 on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Link to source of Gettysburg Battle picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Gettysburg.jpg
Link to text of Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address: http://www.literaturepage.com/read/gettysburgaddress-1.html