I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it, the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. (John 15:12-13 NLT).

Tomorrow will be Memorial Day. For many people it will be a long weekend marking the beginning of summer, a time for picnics and gatherings with family and friends, the Indianapolis 500, parades, and cemeteries. Parades and cemeteries? Yes, with men and women in military uniforms and American flags proudly held high. In many cities the parade ends at a local cemetery. In fact, the holiday was originally called Decoration Day because of the practice of decorating with flowers and flags the graves of military veterans.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. At first, southern states maintained their own holidays, though most had joined in the national observance by the end of World War I. In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. Since 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 gravesites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights. To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps.'"

Physical memorials provide a connection with our heritage. Throughout the Old Testament, we see memorials left as reminders of God's goodness. Some of these were altars on which a sacrifice was offered. Others were simply stone markers, left to serve as a reminder to tell to succeeding generations the story of God's provision at that spot. In the New Testament, the idea was carried a step further when Paul suggested that believers are "living stones." Are you a living memorial of faith? Jesus set the example for us in his great gift of life. While we may not ever be called on to make such a great sacrifice, we surely may give of our love to others with our kindness and consideration.