Veterans/Memorial Day
MEMORIAL & VETERANS DAY
What is the origin & history of Memorial Day?
1. The official birthplace is Waterloo, NY (1866) where the graves of union soldiers were decorated. “Decoration Day” was an attempt to honor the sacrifice of fallen soldiers from the Civil War.
2. The name of the day was changed to “Memorial Day” in 1967. The following year the date of observance was changed from May 30th to the last Monday in May so as to create a 3-day weekend.
3. Memorial Day, today, is used to commemorate U.S. men and women who died in service to their country (often including rescue workers as well).
What is the origin & history of Veterans Day?
1. President Woodrow Wilson declared 11/19/1919 “Armistice Day” after WWI. It was made a legal holiday in 1938 as “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace” and to honor WWI veterans.
2. In 1953 a shoe store owner in Kansas began a campaign to honor all U.S. veterans on Armistice Day. Congress approved of the campaign and signed the holiday into law in 1954 (and that same year changed the name to Veterans Day).
3. Veterans Day, today, is used to honor all U.S. men and women who have served their country via the military. For some years it was kept on the 4th Monday of October, it is now observed on November 11th.
Pacifism & Christianity
All Christians should be pacifists in some sense, but there is debate as to what extent. It seems to me that we should avoid to extreme positions.
Position 1: The Church and the Nation should go to war together (crusades)
Position 2: The Church should not go to war, but the nation sometimes should (just war)
Position 3: The Church and the Nation should refuse all war together (complete pacifism)
Position 1 is reprehensible as the Church has been called to 'fight' in a different way than the Kingdoms of this world. Position 3 is idealistic as there is a time and a place for evil to be confronted. Position 2 is a position of tension. It requires careful analysis on the part of the nation and much prayer on the part of the Church.
What traits are we honoring on these days?
Selflessness- Putting others first
Service- Hard-Work & Dedication
Sacrifice- Willingness to suffer/die
* these are very ‘Christian’ oriented values
Selfishness- Philippians 2:3
Service- Acts 20:35
Sacrifice- 1 Peter 2:19
Military Service is ‘typical’ of Christ
John 11:50-51
Romans 5:6-8
What is the origin & history of Memorial Day?
1. The official birthplace is Waterloo, NY (1866) where the graves of union soldiers were decorated. “Decoration Day” was an attempt to honor the sacrifice of fallen soldiers from the Civil War.
2. The name of the day was changed to “Memorial Day” in 1967. The following year the date of observance was changed from May 30th to the last Monday in May so as to create a 3-day weekend.
3. Memorial Day, today, is used to commemorate U.S. men and women who died in service to their country (often including rescue workers as well).
What is the origin & history of Veterans Day?
1. President Woodrow Wilson declared 11/19/1919 “Armistice Day” after WWI. It was made a legal holiday in 1938 as “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace” and to honor WWI veterans.
2. In 1953 a shoe store owner in Kansas began a campaign to honor all U.S. veterans on Armistice Day. Congress approved of the campaign and signed the holiday into law in 1954 (and that same year changed the name to Veterans Day).
3. Veterans Day, today, is used to honor all U.S. men and women who have served their country via the military. For some years it was kept on the 4th Monday of October, it is now observed on November 11th.
Pacifism & Christianity
All Christians should be pacifists in some sense, but there is debate as to what extent. It seems to me that we should avoid to extreme positions.
Position 1: The Church and the Nation should go to war together (crusades)
Position 2: The Church should not go to war, but the nation sometimes should (just war)
Position 3: The Church and the Nation should refuse all war together (complete pacifism)
Position 1 is reprehensible as the Church has been called to 'fight' in a different way than the Kingdoms of this world. Position 3 is idealistic as there is a time and a place for evil to be confronted. Position 2 is a position of tension. It requires careful analysis on the part of the nation and much prayer on the part of the Church.
What traits are we honoring on these days?
Selflessness- Putting others first
Service- Hard-Work & Dedication
Sacrifice- Willingness to suffer/die
* these are very ‘Christian’ oriented values
Selfishness- Philippians 2:3
Service- Acts 20:35
Sacrifice- 1 Peter 2:19
Military Service is ‘typical’ of Christ
John 11:50-51
Romans 5:6-8
posted by matthew at 10:29 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home