About 25 years ago, I watched Saving Private Ryan for the first time. I was moved to tears as the young men landing on Omaha Beach endured heavy machine-gun fire while struggling to get ashore. I tried putting myself in their shoes and, after much introspection, questioned whether I could have served in that capacity, or in the ultimate capacity of giving one’s life for one’s country.
Today is Memorial Day, a holiday distinct from Veterans Day, which honors all who served. Memorial Day is specifically about honoring those who gave their lives in service.
I offer a few ways to honor Memorial Day for what it truly is:
- Go to Mass. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving not only for your family and friends who may have died serving their country, but for all the men and women who lost their lives while serving.
- Pray for those who recently lost their lives. We live in a world full of conflict. Pray for the servicemen and women who have recently died inservice. As I read through the names, I often find myself wondering who is grieving for our fallen soldiers; parents, spouses, children, and friends. I pray for the souls of those who passed and for all those who loved them.
- Visit a cemetery. If you have one nearby, spending an hour or so in prayer while walking through a cemetery can have a cathartic effect on the soul. Many cemeteries hold special prayer services on Memorial Day. Those who served in the military are almost always marked accordingly.
Whether reflecting on the men and women who have helped keep the world a safer place throughout history or thinking about the major battlesfought over the nearly 250 years of our nation’s history, Memorial Day is a special day to give thanks for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13
