LIVING ON PURPOSE: Honoring those who gave their all

Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. You’ll find that some veterans find it dismaying when they are thanked on this day and most realize the person has good intentions but are confused about the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day remembers those who died in combat while Veterans Day honors all who have served in our military. We might consider how we can support and safeguard their grieving families and loved ones who are left behind, as well as being thankful for those who allow us to have the freedom we enjoy today.

There was a time when society seemed to be more sensitive and compassionate about casualties of war, but today there are many distractions that cause the mind and conscience to be so busy that people forget what is important, and not consider the untold agony these soldiers went through along with their grieving families. Another example is the neglect to teach young children about who God is. Nevertheless, many still embrace their convictions about life and God and will continue to stand for sacred truth. My grandmother went to bed and cried in agony for weeks after her 20-year-old son (my uncle) was killed on the battlefield in Korea.

The custom of honoring ancestors by cleaning cemeteries was an annual act of remembrance, as well as a chance to clean and decorate family memorials. In early rural America, it was usually performed in summer and was an occasion for family reunions and picnics. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, starting with the American Civil War. If we pay attention to how the American flags are raised on Memorial Day, we notice at sunrise, flags are raised to full staff briskly, then lowered to half staff position, where they remain until noon, then raised to the top of the staff until sunset. Traditionally, on Memorial Day, volunteers often place small American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 P.M. Consider visiting a local cemetery to place flags; many organizations are grateful for volunteers. 

It’s believed that the tradition of honoring the dead was inspired by the way Southern states decorated the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags. On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan issued an order to designate May 30 as an annual day of remembrance. With the Civil War, America’s need to honor its military dead became prominent as monuments were raised and ceremonies centering on the decoration of soldiers’ graves were held in towns and cities throughout the nation. After World War I, Decoration Day included all fallen soldiers, not just those from the Civil War, and the term “Memorial Day” started being used. By World War II, Memorial Day became the term in more common usage. In 1971, Memorial Day became a national holiday by an act of Congress. Here is one of the countless true stories of bravery that needs to be shared so that everyone can see more clearly why we honor those who willingly sacrificed their lives for their country. 

Lance Corporal Miguel Keith was born in San Antonio, Texas, on June 2, 1951. A former teacher said, “Miguel was never one to sit on the side lines, he always wanted to be involved.” Miguel left High School in January 1969 to join the Marine Corps. He arrived in South Vietnam that November and was assigned as a rifleman with the 1st Combined Action Group, III Marine Amphibious Force. In the early hours of May 8, 1970, Keith was wounded at the start of a surprise assault by Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces on the village where his platoon was camped. Despite his wounds, the eighteen-year-old ran toward the attackers, killing five, and was further injured by the shrapnel from a grenade blast. Bleeding heavily, Keith faced off against another twenty-five attackers, killing four and forcing the rest to retreat. However, an enemy soldier creeping up behind him shot him in the back. He died thirty minutes later. Keith’s bravery helped his fellow Marines and South Vietnamese soldiers hold off the attack. A bronze statue of Keith now stands in a south Omaha park. The USS Miguel Keith was commissioned on May 8, 2021.  

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, certified chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com