A Memorial Day Service

Memorial Day Service 2013

Music

Introductory Thought:

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in which we remember and honor those men and women who died while serving in the United States military. It takes place on the final Monday of May. Memorial Day has its origin in Decoration Day, a day that was set aside to remember the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War.

Today, people across the United States will be going to gravesites to place U.S. flags and flowers. Not only will our military be remembered, but also other loved ones who have gone before us.

Invocation:

In recognition of the meaning of this day, let us pray:

Heavenly Father,

You have been our refuge and our strength, our peace and our hope during times of trial. You have called us to be your own and to give you priority in our life as individuals and as a nation. You have been attentive to our needs as a nation and protected our freedoms and our people. And for this we give you Thanks.

Today we remember that our freedom was not free, but it came at a cost, at great sacrifice to our service men and women and their families. And at great cost to you and your Son Jesus. As we gather as your people, help us to remember those who followed your example and out of love sacrificed themselves for us. Help us to treasure and be good stewards of the gifts they gave us: liberty, justice, land, a future, and faith.

In Jesus Name, we pray. Amen.

Poems

Dirge for Two Veterens

B Walt Whitman

THE last sunbeam

Lightly falls from the finish'd Sabbath,

On the pavement here, and there beyond it is looking,

Down a new-made double grave.

Lo, the moon ascending,

Up from the east the silvery round moon,

Beautiful over the house-tops, ghastly, phantom moon,

Immense and silent moon.

I see a sad procession,

And I hear the sound of coming full-key'd bugles,

All the channels of the city streets they're flooding,

As with voices and with tears.

I hear the great drums pounding,

And the small drums steady whirring,

And every blow of the great convulsive drums,

Strikes me through and through.

For the son is brought with the father,

(In the foremost ranks of the fierce assault they fell,

Two veterans son and father dropt together,

And the double grave awaits them.)

Now nearer blow the bugles,

And the drums strike more convulsive,

And the daylight o'er the pavement quite has faded,

And the strong dead-march enwraps me.

In the eastern sky up-buoying,

The sorrowful vast phantom moves illumin'd,

('Tis some mother's large transparent face,

In heaven brighter growing.)

O strong dead-march you please me!

O moon immense with your silvery face you soothe me!

O my soldiers twain! O my veterans passing to burial!

What I have I also give you.

The moon gives you light,

And the bugles and the drums give you music,

And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,

My heart gives you love.

"IN A MOTHER'S EYES"

The day our flagpole was ready, We had no flag to fly

A mother stepped forward and said I have a flag with a tear in her eye

It was given to me the day that we laid my son to rest

He was a true blue soldier who gave his life his best.

I got a knot in my throat and a chill in my bones

A tear rolled down my face

A mother has lost her son at war

The pain on her face.

In a mother's eyes you can see red, white, and blue

In a mother's eyes you can see the pain so true

Freedom comes with a cost of sadness and loss

You can see in a mother's eyes.

When someone puts their life on the line so others can be free

It's a selfless act of courage and love, how thankful we all should be

And when I look at the flag today, I see a whole new meaning there

I see the men and the women who died for her

So in this freedom we can share.

In a mother's eyes you can see red, white, and blue

In a mother's eyes you can see the pain so true

Freedom comes with a cost of sadness and loss

You can see in a mother's eyes.

In a mother's eyes you can see red, white, and blue

In a mother's eyes you can see the pain so true

Freedom comes with a cost of sadness and loss

You can see in a mother's eyes.

In memory of PFC Lynn Robbin Krotzer, USMC (KIA 1969 Vietnam) Gibsonburg, OHIO

Scripture:

Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit.”

Psalm 116:15 reminds us, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.”

And John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.”

Opportunity to Share (pull out flowers)

This morning, I’d like for us to take a moment to share what Memorial Day means for each of us.

First, What has been your or your family’s tradition on Memorial Day?

(time of sharing)

Who are you remembering this Memorial Day?

(time of sharing)

What are you thankful for on this Memorial Day?

(time of sharing)

Hand out Flags

Song – Patriotic

Poems

Final Verse of Star Spangled Banner

“Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

 Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!

 Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land 

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. 

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, 

And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”

 And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

 O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

(Francis Scott Key, 1814)

Freedom’s Colors

By Roger W Hancock

Red is for Bravery;

Blood shed in sacrifice.

Freedom came with lives the price.

White is for Liberty;

Freedom’s purity.

Life be free [as God decreed].

Blue is for Justice;

As vast as the sky.

Over freedom’s land to occupy.

Prayer:

Let us now pray as a community. In response to the words, “we lift our hearts to you,” Please say, “O God of mercy, hear our prayers.”

We pray for all who suffer as a result of war:

For the injured and the disabled, for the mentally distressed, and for those whose faith in God and in other people has been weakened or destroyed,

We lift our hearts to you: