“Then conquer we must when our cause it is just/And this be our motto: In God is our Trust.  And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave/O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”Francis Scott Key September 14, 1814.

Our national anthem reminds us of the struggles in blood, sweat and tears that members of our families have diligently fought and died for. We would like to say thanks to all of those who have given their lives that we may be free.

Whenever I look at war movies, I can’t help but think of my father who is with the Lord now. We would sit for hours watching war movies. I would ask questions and he would answer slow and deliberate as if reliving some of the action that he had experience. One particular questions I was intrigued about was when he was in the Korean War.  He was a paratrooper or parachutist. Dad I said, how could you jump out of a plane weren’t you afraid? He would say, Dee, that was my nickname, you see, you train long and hard for those type missions. And if you didn’t jump you were pushed out.  And he would throw back his head and laugh.  I  wondered if he was serious or just teasing me.

Maybe you had times like that with your loved ones. Even though some may be gone now, but their memories live on.  Many of our fathers, grandfathers, great-grand fathers served in the Armed Forces protecting this soil we love so much and we thank them.

Let us pause… and take a moment to reflect on what would ” the land of the free and the home of the brave “ be like today if many had not given the ultimate sacrifice for it?  As we look back to the time when those lyrics were penned the nation was shrouded over in slavery, now it’s all  our national anthem. It has evolved to mean all men and women of this country to be free, but freedom comes with a price, a very high price-their lives.

We give thanks to God the Father who has permitted such brave men and women to stand up and conquer in His Name.  Let us give them the respect and honor due them on this Memorial Day.

We at Renewal Center for Battered Women Ministries salute you.

Brenda Leffall-McGibboney