This Monday, May 27th, 2024, we honor those military men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. They served bravely with honor and integrity, whether in combat or peacetime. Some paid the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefield bringing to mind the Bible Verse John 15:13 - "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
In 1955, Billy Graham delivered a timeless message to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He spoke about the profound impact of those who laid down their lives for freedom. Here’s an excerpt from his address:
“In all the American idiom, there is no more endearing word than ‘buddy.’ It is warm, with intonations of friendship, brotherhood, and common purpose. We are assembled today to pay tribute to those, our ‘buddies,’ who poured out their full measure of devotion upon the altar of freedom. Thousands of you gathered here could tell dramatic stories of heroism which you, yourself, have seen acted out by your buddies on the grim stage of war’s theater. They have left this realm of time and space, they have outstripped us in life’s races, but the sacred memory of their selflessness and the freedom they died to obtain will live forever.”
Graham also shared a powerful moment from his visit to Gettysburg with President Eisenhower. As they stood on hallowed ground, Eisenhower said, “This is where they got it for us.” He meant that the blood shed by those who fought in wars secured the freedoms we enjoy today.
And there’s the unforgettable statement from a wounded soldier in Korea: “It was worth it if it will keep America free!” Let us honor and remember these brave souls who gave their all.
Pastor Luis V. Coca Jr
