Veterans Day began as
Armistice Day at 11 o’clock on 11/11/1918—when the peace was signed for the war
to end all wars. Unfortunately that soon proved to be premature—and so
Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a day when we honor all living veterans.
Memorial Day’s origins go back further—back to the Civil War when women
decorated the graves of their fallen sons and husbands. The roots of a national
Memorial Day—a day for remembering those who gave their lives in service to
country, goes back to 1866 in Waterloo,
New York.
There are some prayers in The Book of Common Prayer that can help
guide us this weekend. I find it helpful whenever I reflect on war to begin by praying for peace. There are prayers on page 815-816 of the Prayerbook "For the Human Family,” “For Peace,” and “For Our Enemies.” It seems to me that as people of faith we
begin there, because the best way to honor those who have given their lives in war is
to work for peace, for the day when they study war no more. We know that the costs of war are astronomical—not only the incalculable human loss but also because of the financial and emotional resources that are spent on swords rather than on plowshares.
There are prayers on page 820-823 of the Prayerbook for our own nation, for our leaders, for sound government, and for members of the armed forces—as well as for those
who suffer for the sake of conscience. I find praying for our leaders is important (whether or not we agree with the administration that currently holds office) because it reminds us that we are one nation, indivisible...
And we can, of course, pray the prayer on page 839 “For
Heroic Service,” found below:
O
Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and
women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties
we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land
share the benefits of true freedom, and gladly accept its disciplines. This we
ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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