Pause and Remember Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell
There are few things more soul-stirring than to see veterans salute the flag they have honored and defended. Their salute reflects the kind of knowledge that can come only from experience, the humble pride born of defending the cause of liberty. To them, that flag represents freedom and duty, love of country, the fellowship and sacrifice of companions in a worthy cause, and a sure awareness of what makes this country great.
It is good to pause and remember, however, that too many of their companions did not survive long enough to be veterans. Theirs was the ultimate sacrifice. And it is well to set aside a day in their honor, to reflect on the cost of the freedoms we enjoy, to remember those who have sacrificed for our safety and well-being. If we truly remember and honor them, then the price they paid shall not have been in vain.
It is also well to consider, on our day of remembrance, the sacrifices of the loved ones of these heroes—the parents and spouses, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters who tearfully but proudly bid farewell to their soldiers, never again to see them in this life.
As Richard L. Evans observed decades ago on this broadcast: “Those who have been deprived of the association of their loved ones, need no day of special reminder. For them every day brings its own reminder. And to you for whom Memorial Day is a day of deep personal loss and of fresh sorrow: may He who gave us life give also to your troubled hearts His assurance of the reality that life is eternal, and that there is no one from whom we have parted here whom we may not know and cherish and live with yet again.”1
Program #4367
1. Tonic for Our Times (1952), 204.
Pocas cosas conmueven más el alma humana que el ver flamear la bandera y escuchar el himno de nuestra nación, cualquiera que ella sea. Éstos son símbolos de la valerosa entrega de patriotas de épocas pasadas que lucharon en defensa de la causa de la libertad. En nosotros, tales símbolos deberían motivarnos a hacer nuestra parte por preservar los valores que por siempre nos han definido.
Siempre es bueno que hagamos una pausa y recordemos a quienes vertieron su sangre y desgastaron su aliento de vida para proteger la de sus compatriotas. Todo país tiene días que más que festivos deberían ser de honor rendido a todos cuantos se sacrificaron por nuestra seguridad y bienestar. Si realmente los recordamos y los honramos, el precio que se ofrecieron a pagar no habrá sido en vano.
También es bueno considerar en estos días de recuerdo, los sacrificios que hacen quienes hoy nos defienden y protegen —en el extranjero y en las calles de nuestra ciudad— soldados, policías, bomberos, personal de rescate y de atención médica.
También deberíamos recordar y honrar a los seres queridos de los caídos en el cumplimiento de su deber, aunque tal recuerdo y honra no requieren un día especial. Para ellos, cada día trae su propio recuerdo de pesar y añoranza. Refiriéndose a ellos, Richard L. Evans declaró décadas atrás: “El Ser supremo que nos dio la vida, promete hacer la carga más ligera, nos asegura que la vida es eterna, y que no hay ser humano del que nos hayamos separado en esta existencia mortal, a quien no volveremos a ver y cuya compañía no volveremos a atesorar”.1
Musical Selection:
1. My Country, ’Tis of Thee
Thesaurus Musicus, 1744; arr.Mack Wilberg; Arr. Unpublished
2. The Pledge of Allegiance
Charles Osgood; arr. Michael Davis; Cherry Lane Music/Charles Osgood
3. American the Beautiful
Samuel A. Ward; arr. Arnold B. Sherman; Red River Music
4. Our God Is marching On
A Medley of the Official Hymns of the U.S. Armed Forces; arr. Michael Davis; Arr. Unpublished
5. Organ Interlude
6. Spoken Word
7. On This Day
Charles Strouse; arr. Mac Huff; Charles Strouse Publications
8. This Land Is Your Land
Woody Guthrie; arr. Percy Faith/Michael Davis; Used by Permission of the U.S. Air Force Band Singing Sergeants