PRELUDE
My brothers and sisters, it’s Veterans Day and I’m feeling very pensive and yes, even a bit emotional. That’s alright, though, because the United States doesn’t recognize veterans on this special day to make sure they have a free McMuffin.
There are many men and women, both living and dead, who have served their country honorably, temporarily sacrificing many of their own freedoms and putting others’ lives ahead of their own for the greater good of society. So many wars; so many battle scars – both physical and emotional. And yet, it is the thing that poetry seems to capture the best. But first…
BACKGROUND
What we now refer to as “Veterans Day” began in recognition of the armistice between the Allied nations and Germany, which ended hostilities during World War I. Famously, the armistice occurred on the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” of 1918.
On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time, with President Thomas Woodrow Wilson declaring that the day should be “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.”
On May 13, 1938, Congress officially made November 11 of each year a legal holiday known as Armistice Day. Armistice Day was initially intended to honor veterans of World War I, but then came World War II and the Korean Conflict. So on June 1, 1954, Congress changed the name of the holiday from “Armistice Day” to “Veterans Day” – which became a day to pay tribute to all American veterans, regardless of where or when they served.
Today, Veterans Day honors all veterans, including those who currently serve, or have formerly served, in the U.S. Army, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, Navy, Coast Guard (and the Merchant Marine during the period of 12/7/1941 to 8/15/1945).
FLANDERS FIELDS
According to Wikipedia, Flanders Fields is a common English name of the WWI battlefields in an area straddling the Belgian provinces of West Flanders and East Flanders, as well as the French department of Nord, part of which makes up the area known as French Flanders.
John McCrae was a Canadian who served in WWI and is best remembered for his poem called “In Flanders Fields” – written as a memorial to honor those lost during WWI.
Here is McCrae’s poem:
In Flanders Fields [Public Domain]
By John McCrae (1872–1918)
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
GIVING HONOR
Jesus affirms that we are to abhor evil and cling to that which is good (consistent with the word of God). We are to give honor to others in love and to do all things as unto Christ:
Romans 12:9-11 (NKJV)
Behave Like a Christian
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another [emphasis mine]; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord…”.
Colossians 3:23 (NKJV)
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…”.
JESUS GAVE UP HIS LIFE FOR US
A veteran is willing to give up his or her life for others, but the greatest sacrifice in the history of the world was made by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus laid down His life for you and me, that we might be saved from perdition, that we would live eternally in heaven with Jesus, and that we would finish our earthly days with the very presence of the Holy Spirit living within us:
John 15:12-13 (NKJV)
Jesus Tells Us To Love Each Other As He Loves Us
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
1 John 3:16 (NKJV)
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
Your Body Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit
“…[d]o you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that He is the ONLY way by which man can be saved:
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him [emphasis mine] might be saved.”
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me [emphasis mine].’”
Acts 4:12 (Amplified Bible)
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
PRAYER
If you are willing, let’s pray. Father, we thank You for the men and women who have selflessly served our nation, who returned, or will return, to their homes and families, but are never the same. May the family members and others who love and care for our veterans never forget the sacrifices made by these men and women – as some of the wounds are visible, but many are invisible, except to You. Lord, be their Healer and Comforter. We also ask for Your mercy and blessing upon our country. We ask that the hearts of the people would turn to You in repentance for salvation and godly wisdom. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen!