REMEMBER THIS DAY

A Memorial

An article in TheChristianPost.com recorded school-aged children’s responses when questioned about the meaning of Memorial Day. Not all, but most had the same answer.

“…the day the pool opens.”

Their response may have gotten chuckles from a “Children Say the Darndest Things” audience. However, the sad truth per a recent Gallup poll is that only 28% of Americans know the real reason for Memorial Day. So, what caused a blessed nation to forget, to cast aside what we should honor, revere, remember? Maybe the reason lies in what God told Joshua to do: have 12 men pick up 12 stones from “the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm” and carry them to the other side of the river.  (Josh.4:3a, NKJV) God knew there would come a day when the Israelite children would ask, “What do these stones mean to you? Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Josh.4:6-7, NKJV) We need reminders! Stones of Remembrance. So when we gather with our children, we’ll gratefully pass down the reason for our celebration. Which all start with God’s mercy and goodness to us.

How about we reawaken the stones for celebrating Memorial Day? Let’s see how much we recall. Ready?

1.  Earliest recorded Memorial Day commemoration occurred in A.  1865-freed slaves in Charleston, S.C., buried & decorated Union soldiers’ graves B.  1921-Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery C.  1968-the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (enacted in 1971)

2. Memorial Day began as a way to remember fallen soldiers from A.  WWI B.  Viet Nam Conflict C.  Civil War

3. The original name for Memorial Day was A.  Ginormous Sales Day B.  Decoration Day C.  Veteran’s Holiday

4. Memorial Day was officially established as the last Monday in May in A.  1968 B.  1866 C.  1993

5.  People began wearing red poppies to commemorate fallen soldiers from A. Civil War B.  WWII C.  WWI

6. Gen. Logan suggested people do this to soldiers’ graves A.  Nothing. Just go shopping B.  Decorate them with flowers, etc. C.  Barbecue and watch “Saving Private Ryan”

7. The American flag should be hung at half-staff on Memorial Day until A.  10 a.m. B.  6 p.m. C.  Noon

8. The official Moment of Remembrance across America marked by one long whistle sounded by Amtrak conductors occurs at A.  9 a.m. B.  3 p.m. C.  Noon

9. In his moving poem, WWI Canadian Surgeon/Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote “In Flander’s Fields” from this point of view A.  Prime Minister Winston Churchill B.  Former property owner of Flander’s Fields C.  Deceased soldiers

Check out the answers below. And, please, “pick up a stone” - talk about the meaning of this holiday with your family and friends. A quote that’s attributed to many including Winston Churchill says, “Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.” Let’s not forget that our country’s foundation is based on “…a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence…” By God’s grace, America is still the land of the free, home of the brave.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! God bless our veterans and active military personnel and their families.

Photo by AussieActive on Unsplash

ANSWERS: 1. A,  2. C,  3. B , 4. A,  5. C,  6. B,  7. C,  8. B,  9. C