Streams of Mercy
This morning my youngest daughter called, saying they were wanting to tell their teen-age sons our family’s military history. I shared that my father was a Marine in the Pacific in World War II, fighting on Iwo Jima and several other islands. Her other grandfather was taken a prisoner of war in the invasion of Anzio Beach in Italy. I shared service pictures, pictures of medals and dog tags; I found a copy of the picture of my mother he kept inside his helmet all during the war.
I told her the story of meeting my brother in Asheville years ago, to see the movie “Flags of Our Fathers.” We set our father’s military items and pictures on the dresser of our hotel room and celebrated his part in keeping our nation free. I shared a book one of his buddies wrote that I received at a reunion of his Marine Division in the late 90s, and read the inscription: “…a veteran of Roi-Nam, Saipan, and Iwo Jima – one hell of a fine Marine and leader of men. Be extremely proud of what your father did for our country.” I’m very proud, and grateful for the sacrifices of the “greatest generation”- those Americans who grew up during the Great Depression and fought in World War II, or those whose labor helped win the war.
A prayer for Memorial Day from the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
Eternal God,
from whom all life comes, to whom all life returns,
we give thanks for all who served our country in the military.
We give thanks for sacrifices made and for those who gave the full measure of devotion.
We give thanks for their lives, their goodness, and their love. This day we give special thanks for Name/s. We are grateful that for a season you allowed us to share life with him/her/them. We commend him/her/them to your keeping, knowing that he/she/they are held forever in your love. Still our loss wounds us and we mourn. We pray for families and friends and all who grieve for loved ones lost in this war. Meet them in the valley of death's shadow. Embrace them in the healing warmth of your comfort, grace, and love. Grant them and all of us the assurance that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
“God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above.”
Giving thanks for the blessing of living in America, “my home sweet home.”
Elizabeth