By Randy Garrison

This Bible verse has been read and shared many times this past Memorial Day weekend.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” John 15:13 (NIV)

The men and women that we honored and remembered this past weekend did just that, not only for their friends and families, but also for all the citizens of this great country.

From the lives lost during the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WW1, WW2, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Iraqi Wars and conflicts, as well as those who served and died in peace times, all died paying the price for freedom. The nation that we proudly call home and live in, was formed to give men the rights of freedom from the tyranny of a British monarchy.

Soldiers over the years since the Revolutionary War have paid the ultimate price to enable that freedom to continue for their families and for those who come after them. Freedom does not come free, but is bought and paid for with the sacrifices og the American soldier.

From the time our country was founded the cost of freedom neither has nor will ever be free, but requires payment by those brave men and women who put on the uniform of the United States of America. There are always those who want to destroy the way of the life that we enjoy in our homeland. Whether if be jealousy or just evil minds who want to destroy what another has, freedom will always come under attack.

The success of our country seems to put a bull’s eye right on the back of Americans. The freedoms we enjoy and have become accustomed to have been hard earned and paid for by the blood shed by American soldiers for over 200 years. As long as this country stands there will be those who want to destroy what it means to be an American.

Unfortunately, the price of freedom continues to escalate and American lives are put on the line each and every day, protecting their fellow citizens, friends and families.

Each young man and now young women who ever put on the uniform of the United States of America Armed Forces did so knowing what could possibly be expected of them. The price of freedom would be resting on their shoulders and they left behind their families and friends and fought the battle for American freedom, with the majority being on foreign soil, with each soldier bearing the burden placed on them.

The red, white and blue of our American flag flew proudly in the breeze this weekend, moving gracefully over a free country, in a large part to those who paid the ultimate price to defend her, with all they had, down to their own lives.

May we never forget those young men and women who never made it back home, and those who are now serving and those who will serve, and will sacrifice their life so you and I can live in this great country.  As the years go by may they be remembered and honored for the sacrifice each brave soldier made. No greater love for family, or for country, can ever been found on this side of heaven.

May we continue to live in the land of the free because of the brave, the American soldier.

God Bless America!