Memorial Day is a solemn day when America recognizes and celebrates the men and women who for over 232 years have protected our country and spread freedom around the world. We gather to honor the sacrifices of American men and women in uniform who gave their lives in the service of their country.

Our veterans, of which I am one and very grateful for my brothers, deserve nothing less than our respect and admiration. As President Bush said today in his address at Arlington, VA in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns;

“Today, we gather to honor those who gave everything to preserve our way of life. The men and women we honor here served for liberty. They sacrificed for liberty. And in countless acts of courage, they died for liberty,”

Today marks the second Memorial Day since my son Rhys was killed. The first, I hardly remember, being only a short two weeks after we buried him. I do remember sitting down front with my wife, and being introduced by Congressman Ken Calvert and that those in attendance gave us a very warm applause. I also remember keeping my sunglasses on the whole time to hide my red eyes and my wife squeezing my arm so hard that it left a bruise. I couldn’t tell you who the keynote speaker was that day. I do vaguely remember a flyover by some Viet Nam vintage helicopters.

Today however, was one that I will remember without too much trouble. Today, along with family members and friends from church, we again attended the festivities at Riverside National Cemetery in Southern California. Although we were asked, we chose to sit in the crowd rather than be part of the ceremony. This allowed my lovely wife, Lynn to remain the “man behind the curtain” and gave me the freedom to move about and meet some of the sailors, soldiers, marines and airmen in attendance.

I met a young marine up from Camp Pendleton for the weekend who just got back from his first tour in Iraq just in time to celebrate his wedding anniversary and his young son’s second birthday. He told me he planned to go back as soon as he could to finish what we started. I also met a group of Junior Navy Cadets, (ROTC) to a man, and woman, each was looking forward to serving their country. Also in attendance were some wonderful kids from the local high school each had a friend or family member serving. I had the opportunity to speak with fellow Viet Nam era veterans and welcome them home. For some this was the first time they had been welcomed home.

This year we were also joined by over 7,000 local members of Rolling Thunder with their bikes adorned with American flags, service flags from all branches, and the POW flags. Also present among the flags were Blue Star flags signifying a current member of the family serving and Gold Star flags commemorating a love one lost. We also saw a truck sporting a Blue Star & Gold Star flag, Lord please bring that young man home safe and bless that family.

I understand from the news that over 750,000 Rolling Thunder members converged on Washington today. That must have been something! Someday I would like to be in Washington during Memorial Day weekend.

All in all, this was a very good weekend and the speeches were thoughtful and delivered with grace and dignity. Many of you no doubt attended ceremonies much like ours. But today I want to share one not given in Los Angles, Chicago or Washington but rather delivered today in Fallujah Iraq. I have taken the liberty to post the Memorial message by Major General John F. Kelly, Commanding General, U.S. Marine Corps, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Also included is the letter mentioned in General Kelly’s message.

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and that you took the time to thank God for all of his blessings. Here is the link.

Today is officially the National Day of Prayer. Like many of the Gold Star Families we pray daily for our troops and our nations leaders from the President down to the freshmen Senators and Congressmen. We also pray for the Supreme Court judges and the other elected officials throughout the United States. We pray that they will show judgment, wisdom and conviction and that God will continue to guide them in there public as well as private lives.

Last night we attended our usual midweek bible study at our church. Instead of the scheduled bible lesson we had a lesson on prayer. Then the church, along with about a dozen associate pastors, started the National Day of Prayer early. I wanted to share a portion of the evening with you so I am including a prayer delivered by my friend and mentor Tom Russel, Associate Pastor from Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. I hope you will share this prayer with someone today.

“A prayer for our nation’s military, and for victory in the Global War on Terrorism”

Heavenly Father, we pause again to give You thanks for Your divine protection that we so often take for granted. You watch over us and keep us safe, individually as Your children, and as a nation whose heritage and hope are in You alone. Throughout our short history as a nation, You have always blessed us with a strong and honorable military. And by and through our military, You have not only protected us, but many other nations and peoples as well.

Today, we remain engaged in a global war against terrorism—a war that threatens to, and would if possible, destroy the very peace for which Christ died. And while we as Your people have the assurance that the peace we enjoy through Christ can never be destroyed, millions of others who long for this same peace, continue to suffer at the hands of those who kill and destroy in the name of all that is unholy and ungodly. So tonight again, we call upon You to protect those whom You call to protect us. We pray for every soldier, sailor, airman, Guardsman, and Marine, who wears the uniform of their nation’s military. All who wear the uniform serve by choice, and many serve in answer to the calling You have placed upon their lives. We pray that you would protect all—those in places of combat around the world, and those who serve here at home. As You keep them safe, we pray that You would embolden those who have taken the name of Christ, that they would be used by You to bring many to salvation. May You use them as ambassadors of Your peace—ambassadors to nations and peoples for whom Christ died. We ask also that you would grant wisdom to all of those in positions of command and authority.

For family members who pray for the safe return of those whom they love, show Yourself strong and faithful in their lives as well. Finally LORD, as this war continues, remind each of us of our duty to pray. And remind us all, that our true enemies are not flesh and blood, but are the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We ask these blessings of You in and for the name of Jesus, amen.