The Memorial Day broadcast of “Music and the Spoken Word” is always an emotional one for me, and today was no exception.  As we sang “The Mansions of the Lord”, tears streamed down my face.  After the broadcast, Lloyd Newell asked all veterans to stand, and the audience applauded for those of us who stood.  And while I do appreciate the honor and I do believe that those who enjoy the blessings of freedom should be grateful to those who were and are willing to sacrifice their lives, tomorrow is not about me and my fellow veterans or active-duty soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.  Memorial Day serves to remind us of the many, many men and women who were not only willing to sacrifice their lives, but did in very deed offer their lives on the sacred alter of liberty.  “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13 

So tomorrow and every day, if you see a soldier in uniform, perhaps you could say a word of gratitude for his or her service, for his or her willingness to leave home, family, children, spouse, and friends to stand as a shield between us and those who despise liberty.  Thank those who gave a limb or an eye to protect you.  That is always appropriate.  But please take a moment to remember those paid the ultimate price to give us a chance to govern ourselves, to make and correct our own mistakes.  Remember those who gave all and can give no more. 

And thank God for them.  Ask God to be merciful unto them and receive them unto Himself, for they laid down their lives so that we might have a chance to live and grow, to love and be loved, to repent and forgive.

The Mansions of the Lord

By Randall Wallace

To fallen soldiers let us sing,

 Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing,

 Our broken brothers let us bring

 To the Mansions of the Lord.

 No more weeping, No more fight,

 No friends bleeding through the night,

 Just Divine embrace, Eternal light,

 In the Mansions of the Lord.

 Where no mothers cry and no children weep,

 We shall stand and guard though the angels sleep,

 Oh, through the ages let us keep

 The Mansions of the Lord.