Forever Indebted

Posted by Karen on May 27, 2012 | 0 comments

In 1776, America’s Founding Fathers declared the intent for this new nation to be independent and free. The freedoms defined in the Declaration of Independence were secured by those who were willing to lay down their lives for the pursuit of freedom and the belief that liberty was the right of all men.

In our first century, over 683,000 Americans lost their lives, most of them during the Civil War. In his speech at Gettysburg, President Lincoln spoke of the higher cause for which these hundreds of thousands gave their lives:

“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom…”

Since then, an additional 626,000 Americans have died in two World Wars and regional conflicts in countries such as Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet these dead have not died in vain either, for they refused to turn from the foes of liberty that would set themselves against this nation, her allies, and the foundation of Godly principles upon which she stands.

So this Memorial Day Weekend we salute ALL who have served our country—Americans who have fought, suffered injury or died fighting for our freedoms. To all of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice—along with their families—we are profoundly grateful and forever indebted.