Memorial Day 2025
My friend Donna and I have been anxiously waiting for a break in the rainy and windy weather so we could go kayaking, and we finally got our chance on Memorial Day morning. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day to head out onto one of the back creeks of the Chesapeake Bay to enjoy God’s beautiful creation and to celebrate our freedom as Americans that came at a very high price.
Indeed, the importance of this holiday was not lost on us. It is so easy to get caught up in the fun of a long weekend and forget why this holiday is on our calendars. The freedom that we enjoy as Americans was bought by those who loved their country more than themselves and paid the ultimate price for doing so.
As the Bible reminds us in John 15:13 (NIV): “Greater love has no one than this: To lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” We should never forget that it is our patriotic duty to honor those who gave the supreme sacrifice for our freedom and do our best to support their loved ones every day throughout the year.
I spent my Memorial Day evening watching the National Memorial Day concert from Washington, DC and will be attending a Memorial Day service at American Legion Post 194 on Friday since they continue to honor those who gave it all on our behalf on the traditional Memorial Day, May 30. I am grateful to PBS and American Legion Post 194 for reminding me of the importance of this national holiday!
While I know that Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who gave their lives for our country, I never pass up the opportunity to honor all of our awesome veterans who laid it all on the line so we can live in a country that is so free. I will close now with a poem that I wrote in honor of my father, Russell M. Johnson, who served with the 102nd Infantry Division, 407th Infantry Regiment, Headquarters Company 1st Battalion in World War II. Thank you to all who gave the supreme sacrifice, as well as those who have served our nation in the past and those who are doing so now. Our veterans are the firm foundation upon which our great country was built!
Thank You, Veterans!
You may not recognize their faces
But they have been all over this world,
And our heads should bow in gratitude to them
Each time our flag is unfurled.
You see, most of our veterans are common folks
A lot like you and me.
Yet, they bravely answered Uncle Sam when he called
To help keep our nation free.
For some fought over in Europe
While others went to Japan,
Some were in Korea or the Persian Gulf
While others served in Vietnam.
Some came home to a hero’s welcome
While others were spit upon and scorned.
Still, others never came back alive
While the nation and their families mourned.
Sadly, some are missing even to this day
While others came back lame,
But regardless of the extent of their sacrifice
They never came back the same.
For a precious gift like freedom
Often brings with it a high price to pay,
And those of us who enjoy it so much
Should thank our veterans every day.
So, on Memorial Day and Veterans Day
And throughout every day of the year,
Let us remember to say thank you to our wonderful vets
For the gift of freedom we love so dear!