Memorial Day

I just fininshed writing this for our Sunday worship guide:
As we gather for worship this morning, we recognize that it's a "holiday" weekend. For many this is just a long weekend. Since it's Memorial Day, it's the official beginning to summer with the opening of swimming pools. Are you ready for summer yet? Before we rush past this "holiday" we need to remember what Memorial Day is really about.
Since the Civil War, our nation has set aside the last Monday in May as a day to honor those ho paid the ultimate price for our freedom by laying down their lives. Take a few moments to think of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others who have died in service to our county. May their sacrifice be a reminder to each of us that freedom is not free.
We can't think of the laying down of lives without the words of Jesus ringing in our ears. In John 15:13 we read of Jesus teaching His Disciples about love. He said "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
It was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who set the example for us all of the price that needed to be paid and His willingness to pay it. May you understand fully the significance of the sacrifice of those who have died to pay for our freedom - both the solider and, most significantly, our Savior.