If I have my history right, the United States has not formally declared war since World War II. It seems the last formal declaration of war took place nearly 70 years ago on June 5, 1942 when Bulgaria, Hungry, and Romania were added as opponents in our war with Japan, Germany, and Italy.
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Numerous military engagements have been authorized by congress since that time however. Whether or not you call those activities wars, police actions, skirmishes, or national security ventures people have died for our country.
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Though there has never been a formal declaration of war in my lifetime, many have given their lives over the past 70 years and many gave their lives long before that. We are here today to remember and to honor those who are no longer with us because they fought for the cause of a free nation under God.
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Today we honor them. That word “Honor” is quite significant. It means to value, to respect, to hold in high regard. It means to exalt, esteem, dignify and to pay tribute to. I pray that we do all those things today as we gather to remember those who no longer live among us, but are definitely worthy of tribute because they died for us.
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Willingly giving your life for another person is an act of great humility. Pride would say that you are too important to die and that someone else must die for you instead, but humility says that the lives of others are so significant that you are willing to sacrifice your own life.
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Proverbs 22:4 says, “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” We looked at honor as a verb as we spoke of the action of bestowing honor on those who gave their lives, but this verse from the scripture shows honor as a noun- a thing- that is possessed by those who are humble and fear the Lord.
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As we consider the definition of honor as a noun, we come up with words like personal integrity, dignity, reputation, mark of distinction, great privilege, & high position. Though those we are honoring today no longer possess life in this world, they do possess dignity, reputation, mark of distinction, great privilege, and a high position in our estimation as we bestow honor upon them.
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As we consider those who gave their lives for others, I cannot help but reflect upon one who was slain and is definitely worthy of honor-in fact the greatest honor of all.
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Revelation 5:11-12 says, "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
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Jesus Christ is God and He gave his life for others and is definitely worthy of honor above all others, but His Holy Bible reminds us that others are worthy of honor as well.
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Romans 13:7 states, "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."
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Today let us honor our fallen soldiers with a respect and a value for their dignity and service as we bestow upon them a mark of distinction for their humble sacrifice- as we give them the honor that is due them- the honor they deserve.
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