Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day

We sang America the Beautiful in church yesterday, and the third verse made me choke up, as it does every year:



O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America!
America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!



This verse always makes me remember to offer a silent prayer of thanks for all those who have sacrificed their lives so that I can enjoy the freedom of a long weekend.

The brave die never, though they sleep in dust:
Their courage nerves a thousand living men.
~Minot J. Savage

1 comment:

  1. We definitely need to remember all those who served and are still serving. My sister was visiting from KY and joined us at mass yesterday and had to leave during that song....her only son is currently in Afghanistan and this week he witnessed a dear friend die next to him. God bless them all!

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