Saint Ambrose, many centuries ago, said, “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” This year, on May 27th, we remember those, in the military, who fell in service to our nation. It is not a day of celebration, but a somber day of remembering and self-reflection. It is our urgent duty to do no less than to give thanks.

On November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery President Lincoln was not the keynote speaker, but followed Edward Everett’s two-hour speech. When the ceremony was over Mr. Everett wrote a note to President Lincoln saying, “I wish that I could flatter myself that I had come as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.”

This Memorial Day I want to take inventory of my own life by asking two questions. The first question I am asking myself is: “How have these brave heroes impacted my life by their selfless sacrifice?” The second question I am asking myself is: “What should my response be to what they have done?”

Abraham Lincoln, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, answered the questions that I am asking on this Memorial Day. In his two-minute speech dedicating the Gettysburg National Cemetery he provides us with an understanding of what happened on that battlefield and how we should respond to it. The Gettysburg Address is the wisdom of President Lincoln on display. The testament of his wisdom’s endurance is the relevance and utility of it as we observe Memorial Day in 2024 . . . 161 years later.

Abraham Lincoln about half way through his speech said: “But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

It is our urgent duty this day to give thanks. We thank those who have fallen and their families for their sacrifice. We owe them a debt that we cannot repay. We thank God that they lived!

For us the living …God give us the strength and the wisdom to continue what these heroes have begun. May we live lives that are worthy of their sacrifice. May we live lives resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13 ESV

Semper Fidelis

Terry L. Blose
Sgt. USMC
Danang, Chu Lai, RVN 1969-1970