Today’s Devotion: “In Memory Of Those Who DiedTo GAIN and KEEP Our FREEDOM!”

Produced by
BRUCE MCGEE MINISTRIES

Sponsored by
SKYRIDER COMMUNICATIONS
Gary Godard Chief Technical Officer
OFFICE: 800-536-7035

HI!

Boalsburg, Pennsylvania is said to be the
birthplace of Memorial Day.

Three young women—Emma Hunter, Sophie Keller
and Elizabeth Myers—began the custom of decorating
soldiers’ graves in 1864, while the Civil War was still
being fought.
They wanted to recognize the contributions of villagers
who had paid the ultimate price, and they did it with what
was at hand, some homegrown flowers.

The idea of decorating graves caught on, and today,
because of the thoughtfulness of Emma, Sophie and
Elizabeth, millions of people across the nation this
Memorial Day will remember with deep affection those
whose lives once touched theirs.

__SCRIPTURE______

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends.
KJV

_THOUGHT________

This weekend many will grill outside, have a good
time with friends and relatives.
They will enjoy themselves because of a 3-day
weekend called MEMORIAL DAY.

Sometimes I wonder, how many of the 334million
people in America REALLY know why we celebrate
Memorial Day.

This holiday in the United States is for honoring and
mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while
serving in the United States Armed Forces.
From 1868 to 1970, it was observed on May 30.
Since 1971, it is observed on the last Monday of May.

The National Cemetery Administration, a division of
the Department of Veterans Affairs, credits Mary Ann
Williams with originating the “idea of strewing the
graves of Civil War soldiers—Union and Confederate”
with flowers.

The real purpose of the holiday is to honor and show
respect for those who paid the ultimate price to GAIN
and MAINTAIN our FREEDOMS!

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs,
between 1775 and 1991, the US military recorded
651,031 battle deaths and 539,054 non-combat deaths.

Those statistics do not include the number of police
officers who have died, in the line of duty, protecting
citizens.
In the last 10 years alone, over 2,652 LEOS died in the
line of duty.

So many have shown this “Greater love,” of which
Jesus spoke!

We can at least pause to thank God for those who
paid the ultimate price to GAIN and MAINTAIN our
freedoms.

Love ya!
Bro. Bruce