Memorial Day began as Decoration Day, first observed in 1868. It was a day set aside to remember and honor those who died serving in the armed forces. It was the day for visiting cemeteries and memorials to remember those who died in the line of duty. The official observance of Memorial Day on the last Monday in May was set aside in 1971, so relatively recent in our history.
Over the years, I have been invited to offer an opening prayer or benediction at a local cemetery on Memorial Day. After a brief service, volunteers go out to place flags on the graves of those who died while serving. Memorial Day has expanded in our culture as many go out to place flowers on the graves of loved ones and remember all who have died.
It is part of the cadence of Memorial Day to pause and mark the deaths of those who died by violence. This weekend we also pause to remember and mark five years since George Floyd’s death at the intersection of Chicago and 38th St., just three miles from Central. Naming this may stir up emotions in you. You may see the importance of this naming and the prayer we offer in worship as we mark his death. You may wonder why we even need to name it at all, perhaps feeling the complex emotions stirred up at the mention of his murder.
We need to remember and name the suffering and loss. We need to pray for peace and work for God’s justice and restorative love for all. Those who gave their lives for this country served so that everyone might know the gifts of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” As people of faith, we yearn for the vision in the last chapter of Revelation, which we read in worship this weekend: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
It is healing that we yearn for, the ways of God’s love that lead to justice and peace.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Peter