Yesterday we attended a Veteran’s Day program at our church school.  This has become an annual tradition for them and is extremely moving and inspirational.  Words were said regarding the price paid for freedom and the pain suffered on our behalf by all those who have served along with their families and friends.

One thing that stood out among many was the recitation of the Gettysburg Address which was written so many years ago, but is still pertinent today.  A portion of that speech is:

“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

As we approach another day of honor for our American veterans, I pray that those words ring true for all of us.  We must resolve that the blood shed has merit.  Those who died to make our country a land of opportunity for all should be honored for their deeds by those of us left behind.   We really have an obligation to do so.

A government of the people, by the people and for the people is a noble sentiment which needs to be revived and upheld once again.  We have a unique country here in the USA in that we are in charge of those sworn to uphold the laws of the land.  As employers it is our duty to make sure that our governing officials are doing their job.

All the lives lost and blood shed will have not been spent in vain if we uphold that very truth.