Memorial Day 2024

• “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them."

–John F. Kennedy

• "Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility." –Eleanor Roosevelt

• Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world. A veteran does not have that problem." –Ronald Reagan

• "Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it." –Unknown

• “For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue." –James A. Garfield

• “This nation will remain the land of the free only as long as it is home of the brave." –Elmer Davis

• “The patriot's blood is the seed of freedom's tree." -Thomas Campbell.

The Empty Chair at Our Table: A Family’s Loss

A Memorial Day Acrostive Poem

Twilight hugs the horizon, a gentle reminder of your absence,Home feels quieter, even amidst the clatter of daily life.Every mealtime whispers your name, echoing in the empty space.

Empty chair, a silent testament to the love we still hold,Memories flicker like candlelight, warm but distant.Plates pass, hands touch, but the gap you left remains unbridged.Tears mingle with laughter, a melody of remembrance and sorrow.Yearning for one more moment, one more day with you.

Conversations circle back to tales of your valor, your warmth.Hearts heavy with the burden of your absence, yet proud.Around this table, we gather, a family forever changed.Invisible, yet ever present, your spirit guides us.Remembering you, we honor your sacrifice, your love.

As seasons change, so do we, but the chair remains—Tribute to a life lived with courage, a place at our table forever yours.

Our bond, unbroken by time or distance, keeps us close.Until we meet again, in realms where empty chairs are filled,Resting in the peace of knowing you watch over us.

Through tears and smiles, your legacy lives on,Anchor in our hearts, light guiding us through the darkest nights.Bravery and love, the inheritance you left behind,Love that transcends the confines of our earthly table.Each day, we honor you, the hero in our hearts, the empty chair at our table.

From the staff of Intentional Intimacy Ministries our heartfelt prayers to the families of those who lost loved ones while protecting this country and providing us our freedom.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone may God bless you all abundantly !