Bishop’s
Memorial Day Letter
Memorial
Day, 2015
The cost, in blood and treasure, of our liberties in America is beyond measure;
but this cost points to a principle of the American psyche that has
existed from the beginning and prompted our fore-fathers to risk all, including
their “lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor”. (from Declaration
of Independence – last line) Yes, honor is a sacred trust as well as the lives
of the men who placed such a premium upon it that they were willing to give
their lives to defend our freedoms.
Memorial Day is a day devoted to the honor of those who gave the last great
sacrifice in defense of a nation highly favored by God. As long as men and
women of honor continue in that tradition, our nation will remain free;
however, a key component of freedom is a reliance on the Providence of a
Beneficent God that is the Guarantor of Liberty. If we ever forget that
gracious Hand that has fed, guided and defended our the peoples of our
far-flung shores, we will find that we have also lost our liberties along with
our memories.
I have put together a few lines of poetry to commemorate
this day of remembrance and sacrifice entitled, “Call to Arms”. It
reflects my sentiments for the day, and I hope yours, too:
Call to Arms
The call to arms resounded
From sea to shining sea.
The soldier packed his knapsack
And took his final leave.
He left behind a family –
A daughter, son, and wife,
And made his roll-call muster
And then he gave his life.
The dirge sounds slow and muffled
As his comrades bear him on –
The flag-draped casket jostles
As the Caisson rolls along.
He may have been a youngster
In his early manhood bloom –
Or she may have been a doctor
Near the battle’s crash and boom.
But one and all stand honored
Amid the cross and star
As heroes of the nation
Who gave their all in war.
The Blue Star mother mourns –
The young wife bides alone –
As the nation pays its tribute
For the seeds of freedom sown.
On distant shores celestial –
The trumpet sounds the call
As freedom’s angels gather
To greet the soldier home.
Bare-headed, I salute every combat soldier, sailor, airman, and Coast Guardsman
who gave his/her all for me, and for you, and for you, and for YOU - on this
Memorial Day in America of 2015 (in the Year of our Lord)!
