Shelby County Today

May 24, 2019 - As we prepare to enter into the Memorial Day weekend let us look at exactly what we are suppose to be celebrating.

Originally Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day to honor the the Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War (620,000 on both sides. This is more than WWI and WWII combined) By the 1900s it became a day to celebrate all American soldiers who have fought and died while serving in the military. It wasn’t until 1967 that it was officially designated Memorial Day.

In 2000 congress passed a law that requires all Americans to stop what they are doing at 3pm on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have died serving the United States. (Bill Clinton signed into law).

I’m sure that almost every American can look back and find someone in their family who has served in and died in an American war. We must never forget those brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in a country with so many freedoms. We also should never forget 9/11/2001 when we were attacked by the terrorist that took the lives of so many Americans in New York, The Pentagon, and Flight 93. God has blessed America and we should never forget to memorialize those individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorials have been used through out history all the way back to the origins of the Bible. In Joshua 4:6-7 God instructed Joshua to erect a memorial to remember the crossing of the Jordon into the promised land. “That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” Then in the New Testament there are also commands to memorialize the sacrifice of the cross, when Paul instructs the Corinthians on Jesus commandment, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” (1 Cor. 11: 23-26).

You see Memorial Day is much more important than just another day off work. It is a time to remember what others have sacrificed for us. So let this Memorial Day be different for you this year. Take some time to reflect on, remember how blessed we are to have had men and women, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, moms and dads who were all willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. And for a Saviour who died for our sins so that we may live in peace in this life and through eternity.

I’m Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard