The last full measure

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I stopped by the Gettysburg National Cemetery. It was our first time to be there, and of course we did not allow enough time to really take advantage of the informational tours and displays that were available. But still, driving through the quaint, history-stamped town, and making our way to the battlefield park took us back to a very different time. On a November day in 1863 President Abraham Lincoln participated in the dedication of the Civil War cemetery, delivering the powerful speech that would henceforth be known as The Gettysburg Address. In it he credited the soldiers who "gave the last full measure of devotion" in service to the cause of liberty and the preservation of the Union.

This week-end's Memorial Day celebration had its beginnings in Civil War memorials. I understand the observance dates at least back to May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Since then the tradition has been carried forward as a means to honor veterans of every national conflict, even to the present day as we pay tribute to the fallen in Afghanistan and Iraq. Indeed, the concept of memorial has been woven into our national consciousness with solemn and majestic monuments. The Viet Nam Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the memorial at the site of the Oklahoma City bombing, and the 9/11 Memorial are among the more recent special observances of tragedy and heroism. Memorials are observed also in the community of Columbine High School near Denver, and in other communities shaken by similar horror in north Arkansas, in Mississippi and Kentucky.

Sadly, it seems we have become a society that must rely on the concept of memorial to help make sense of the often senseless heartbreak of terrorism, war and crime. Generations to come may wonder if we were better at erecting memorials than we were at forging a society in which there would be less need for them! Still there is a sacred responsibility to honor those who have gone before. And in that spirit, our Memorial Day observance also includes blessed memory of departed loved ones of our families, church and community. In some places this coming Sunday is still known as Decoration Day, a time when the local cemetery is refreshed with spring floral arrangements.

Thinking about the heroism of those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom, or who dedicated their lives to the service of others, it might be worth asking: "What am I ultimately devoted to? For what would I be willing to give the last full measure of devotion?" In the annals of Christian history, many have given their lives for the cause of Christ. In the words of the Letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament, "they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one."