This weekend our nation observes Memorial Day – a date on the civil calendar when the nation does (and should) honor the men and women who have given their lives in defense of our nation – of us – during their tours of service in the various branches of our USA Armed Forces. They have paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. They have died so that the world might be more just and peaceful. We remember those who died in the wars of the last three centuries and the armed conflicts of these early decades of the 21st century. These members of our Armed Forces left behind their families, jobs, friends and the safety of their homes to put themselves in harm’s way.
They gave their lives to defend the truths that our great nation holds to be self-evident. The truth that all men and women are created equal. The truth that we are all children of one God, endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights – to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The men and women we remember died defending these truths. They died in fields of war for all of us – so that we could gather on this Memorial Day in peace and in freedom. We owe them a great debt for their sacrifice and for their love. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friend. The men and women we remember on Memorial Day were people of such great Love.
We are forever grateful for the sacrifice of the deceased members of the Armed Forces who were members of the… Orthodox Church of the USA. May we never take for granted the freedoms for which they fought. Instead, may we honor the memory of these generous men and women by making some personal sacrifice of our own on this Memorial Day: an act of kindness or service, a commemoration, or a prayer. Together let us always strive to be citizens mindful and respectful of those who paid the ultimate price.
With prayers, from the Spiritual Center (Metropolia) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in South Bound Brook, NJ
+Antony, Metropolitan
+Daniel, Archbishop
~Website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, https://uocofusa.org/news_210527_1
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