Gracious God, on this Memorial Day weekend, We remember and give thanks For those who have given their lives In the service of our country. When the need was greatest, They stepped forward and did their duty To defend the freedoms that we enjoy, And to win the same for others. O God, you yourself have taught us That no love is greater than that Which gives itself for another. These honored dead gave the most precious gift they had— Life itself— For loved ones and neighbors, For comrades and country — and for us.

The fact is that most people will not attend Memorial Day events this holiday weekend. Indeed, most Americans have little knowledge of, or connection to the Memorial day events. This is the first long weekend of the summer and most will be thinking of anything but Memorial Day. It is a reality that those who have served this country in uniform, and their families, are less that 1% of the American population. Most people today, even though we have been at war for the last 14 years, do not even know anyone who is serving, or who has served in our military. Most would not be able to tell you why we celebrate Memorial Day.

After World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe. Scientists attributed the growth to soils in France and Belgium becoming enriched with lime from the rubble left by the war. From the dirt and mud grew a beautiful red poppy. The red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed during battle following the publication of the wartime poem “In Flanders Fields.” The poem was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D. while serving on the front lines.

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