Memorial Day in always celebrate in the United States on the last Monday in May. When I lived up North, Memorial Day always signified the beginning of summer, just as Labor day marked the end of summer. The traditional meaning of Memorial Day is to honor those who died in active military service. The first Memorial Day was established in May 1865, less than a month after the Confederate forces surrendered at Appomattox at the end of the Civil War. In our modern era, with so much political and social division, perhaps the true meaning of Memorial Day gets lost.
God of power and mercy,
you destroy war and put down earthly pride.
Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your sons
and daughters.
Keep in your mercy those men and women
who have died in the cause of freedom
and bring them safely
into your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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