“If words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice.”
– President Ronald Reagan, Memorial Day 1982

As Americans, we enjoy countless freedoms people in other nations can hardly dream of – freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to vote, own property, due process, and countless others we often fail to consider in our daily lives. It’s easy to become caught up in the complexities of our circumstances and overlook the two and a half centuries of sacrifices that have brought us to this incredible point in American history. Memorial Day is more than a Monday off work – it’s a time to pause and reflect, a time to honor the 1.19 million men and women who paid the ultimate price to safeguard our freedoms and independence. They forfeited their lives so that we can live in freedom.

As President Reagan proclaimed, we owe it to our fallen soldiers to live lives worthy of their sacrifices. We should strive to cultivate a nation where the values they fought and died for can thrive. We can all make small sacrifices to help bring that about. One of the simplest yet most essential sacrifices that we can make for our country is to pray for our nation. This small offering of time and effort holds eternal significance. We ought to regularly pray for God’s guidance for our leaders and the safety of our service members here and abroad, as well as for their families.

To bring an even deeper meaning to an already reverent day, we can observe Memorial Day through the eyes of Scripture. Much like the 1.19 million brave soldiers who died in the line of duty to keep our country free, Jesus died to keep our souls free. Jesus' death represents the sacrifice above all sacrifices, and we would be remiss if we neglected that truth on this important day.

“By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” – 1 John 3:16

We are incredibly grateful for every person who devoted his or her life and death to this nation we call home. To every veteran and active soldier – we thank you for your service, as well. Your dedication and valor are worthy of praise.

It’s time to reclaim pride in our country and all the patriots who have come before us. That begins with honoring the lives lost in the process of making America the greatest country in the world. We hope you take time to reflect on the incredible privilege of living in this nation and to honor our fallen heroes – not just on Memorial Day, but often throughout the year.