Memory Stones - Set aside time on this Memorial Day to remember those who have sacrificed for your freedom.

by Captain Mike Fieberkorn, U.S. Air Force

For centuries, men and women in the military have made great sacrifices to protect our nation’s freedom—some have spent significant time away from loved ones, some have endured injury and trauma, and many have given their lives. On Memorial Day, we pause to recall and honor military personnel who have made such tremendous sacrifices for our freedom.

When we’re far removed from the front lines, it can be easy to take this kind of commitment for granted. Sometimes it’s not until we encounter a setting like Arlington National Cemetery and gaze on its acres of gravestones that we truly begin to comprehend the magnitude of a soldier’s sacrifice. These “memory stones” are permanent reminders of the thousands of individuals who have given their lives in the name of freedom. Each stone tells a story; and each stands to remind future generations not to forget those who’ve gone before. This legacy of sacrifice also can be seen clearly in Scripture. In the Old Testament, as the Israelites crossed over the River Jordan and into the Promised Land, the Lord commanded Joshua and his men to set up memory stones to remind Israel of the great deeds the Lord had done to rescue them from the hands of their enemies. “These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever,” Joshua told the Israelites in Joshua 4:7. God did not want them to forget His faithfulness.

We also can look back on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The boulder that was rolled away from His empty tomb calls to mind the greatest sacrifice of all time and the conquering of death forever. Our Savior suffered and went to the cross to win forgiveness so that the whole world could be free from sin and empowered to live a new life for Christ. Remembering His sacrifice assures us of our salvation and spurs us on to serve both God and neighbor in love.

On this Memorial Day, and throughout this year, remember those who’ve gone before you and sacrificed for your physical freedom. Perhaps visit a local cemetery and offer a prayer of thanks for a fallen soldier. If possible, spend some time with a family member who has lost a loved one. If nothing else, take time to reflect on all that’s been accomplished so you can live freely.

And as you contemplate the price that’s been paid for your freedom on Earth, also reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus, who gave His life for your spiritual freedom.

Captain Mike Fieberkorn graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003 and currently serves as an acquisition officer at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where he resides with his wife, Angela, and 20-month-old son, Jacob.

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