KUDOS TO YOU! 6/5/11

AS I REFLECT on May 30th; Memorial Day of 2011, I would like to first, hand out a few KUDOS to you. We left our house to head out to the parade that was being held on down towns main street, and noticed our house had the only flag flying! We turned the corner at the cross street and we saw only one flag flying. We later turned on 6th street which is the main drag that would take us to Main street, and the only two flags we saw flying were the large ones in a couple of strip malls. We arrived at Main street and there were the American Flags; the POW Flags and MIA Flags. KUDOS to you who planned the parade, those who decorated the streets with flags and those who attended. KUDOS to you who had their flags flying, whoever you are!

AFTER THE PARADE we attended the Memorial Service that was held in our beautiful Veteran’s Park. A lot of work went into the preparations and it was evident that the hearts that planned for the fly over; the wreathes; the thoughtfulness of sitting the MIA table; choosing the speakers and the program were showing their love for Country; their thankfulness to those who sacrificed much; and to God for His blessings. Those who attended were paying a tribute of thanksgiving by taking time to remember. Stories were told, tears were shed and even with sprinkles of rain, it was a good day for remembering! KUDOS to all of you!

IT ALL BEGAN with women decorating the graves of the soldiers who died during the Civil War. It was then called “Decoration Day!” Years later it was called Memorial Day to remember all the Soldiers who have died in all the wars. It doesn’t really matter when it began or what it is called but it is important that we remember. During most of my life time Memorial Day has been a day to remember anyone who has died; not just the Soldier. KUDOS to those who have sacrificed much to keep this country we call America; free! KUDOS to those who have come home whole and those who were harmed. KUDOS to their families and to their hardships that they have endured!

IT IS NOT surprising how many forgot to attend the parades and special programs. It is not surprising that many didn’t take the time to go to the cemetery’s to pay their respects and decorating with the wreathes. People are famous for their lack of faithfulness in remembering a holiday except for the food! What is surprising is how many didn’t put out their flags to honor those who honored us with their lives. It can’t be because they couldn’t find a flag or perhaps they didn’t want to look for one.

“JOSIAH was eight years old when he began to reign and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. For in the first eight years of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David. 2 Chronicles 34:1-3a Josiah was 16 when he began to seek the face of God! After Josiah cleaned up the land he turned his attention to the house of the Lord. Not a nook or cranny was left untouched in the renovations.

WHILE bringing out the money that had been collected many years before to restore the house; the priest found the book of the law of the Lord; given through Moses. He took the book to Josiah! When the king heard the words of the law he cried! He was ashamed! No wonder it seemed that God had forgotten them. It was because their father’s had forgotten to remember the word of the Lord and to do all that was written in the book. “In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah the passover was kept.” 2 Chronicles 35:19 The long forgotten passover was remembered and the celebration was great!” God does not want us to forget Him or His words. God set up many celebrations for His people to remember Him by. Should we forget to celebrate our own, who have given much? Let us remember to remember, lest we forget forever! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 6/3/11