Memorial Day
Reflection
On this Memorial Day
Grant peace to the souls
Of all those soldiers who died in war.
We remember the tears and grief of their families,
The pain of mother, wives, husbands and children
Who lost precious loved ones,
To build a meaningful memorial to them,
We ask God to give us all the will
To work for peace around the world
So no more sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, nor mothers
Are slaughtered by the guns and bombs of war.
Education for Justice
Prayer
Lead us with our sister nations into a world of unity that will create real peace. Comfort those who have lost their loved ones in war.
Action
This day remember all those who have lost their lives in war. Hold them and those they left behind in gratitude and continue to grieve their dying. Continue your efforts to live nonviolently and to promote and support nonviolent solutions to differences. Do not buy products or support entertainment that fosters violence.
Suggested Reading
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
Matthew 26:52
Even today we raise our hand against our brothers and sisters… We have perfected our weapons, our conscience has fallen asleep, and we have sharpened our ideas to justify ourselves as if it were normal we continue to sow destruction, pain, death. Violence and war lead only to death.
Pope Francis
We must change our mind-set about war itself. To prevent conflict through diplomacy and strive to end conflicts after they’ve begun. To see our growing interdependence as a cause for peaceful cooperation and not violent competition. To define our nations not by our capacity to destroy but by what we build. And perhaps, above all, we must reimagine our connection to one another as members of one human race.
Barack Obama at Hiroshima, May 27, 2016
Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.
John F. Kennedy
I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.
George Washington
According to tradition this is a day to remember those who have fallen in US wars. The stated goals of these wars were peace, democracy, freedom and justice. But what has really happened? In spite of all the wars that have taken thousands of our soldiers and millions of innocents, especially children, the world is still at war and people everywhere suffer unjust political systems where there is no freedom. Why has all this blood been spilled? To show us that war is not the way to the noble ideals for which many have died. On this day I invite you to reflect on how to honor these lost souls by working through non-violence for real peace and justice.
Fernando Suarez del Solar
Can anything be stupider than that a man has the right to kill me because he lives on the other side of a river and his ruler has a quarrel with mine, though I have not quarreled with him?
Blaise Pascal
Note:
This Memorial Day we also are grieving those who have died from the coronavirus pandemic.
We also grieve those, especially innocent children, who were caught in the violence between Israel and Palestine.