Memorial Day thoughts

"In gratitude to those who served... in sorrow for those who lost their lives." So many thoughts ran through my head at today's Memorial Day Tribute at the Downey Cemetery.

I'm grateful for all of the men and women who have sacrificed their time and sometimes their lives to serve our country. I'm grateful to the veterans who were at the ceremony today, and for the service men and women in our immediate families. My dad, who served in WWII Germany, and my nephew, who served in Iraq. Ally's dad, who served in the Vietnam era. And Joan's daughter, who is currently serving in the National Guard. We honor them today.

I listened to the words of "America the Beautiful" and added my prayer that God will bless our country with peace.

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea! 

And I thought about the words of the speaker, who has been involved in these celebrations since 2000, and wondered if he would be granted his wish to celebrate a Memorial Day without our country being at war somewhere in the world.

I listened to the haunting notes of "Taps," echoing across the cemetery.


And I thought about the words to one of my favorite songs, "A Song of Peace".

This is my song, Oh God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my sacred shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.


My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
Oh hear my song, oh God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.

A song of peace, for their land and for mine.