Memorial Day 

   Memorial Day, like so many holidays, is not even celebrated on the proper day (May 30^th).  It’s been moved so that people get a three-day weekend, forgetting its importance as a day of remembrance.  It’s not about ‘Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet” as GM used to advertise; it's not about family gatherings where we eat and drink too much while never recognizing the purpose for the holiday.  It’s about remembering the American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who have given their lives so that we can enjoy those hot dogs and apple pies in freedom.

   For me Memorial Day always takes me back to April 17^th, 1987.  The USS Stark (FFG-31) was on duty in the Persian Gulf and I had been temporarily assigned to that ship.  At about 9:00 PM that evening an Iraqi F1 aircraft fired two Exocet missiles into the Stark.  One missile detonated and the other did not but remained inside the ship where it expended the rest of its fuel starting numerous fires.  For the next day and a half, the crew valiantly fought to save the ship.  At more than one point it was not certain whether the ship could remain afloat or would have to be abandoned.

   That attack resulted in the deaths of 37 crew members of the Stark, over 15% of the total on board the ship at the time of the attack.  Ironically, we were not at war or even in a conflict with Iraq at the time.

   I remember those men, many of them young and looking forward to life; how their life was snuffed out by what Iraq termed an “accident”.  I remember the wife and small son of one of the Senior Chiefs who was killed.  They had flown to Bahrain to meet him when the Stark arrived in port.  Sadly, they took part in a memorial service instead.

   Take time today to say a prayer for all those we have lost and for those who will undoubtedly be lost in years to come.  Pray for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  May he teach us that warriors never find peace, only more wars.  It is not violence that will end war, but the love of God.