Memorial Day

[LineInTheSand]

The protestors are not allowed on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. They usually form up near the Metro entrances of the main street into the cemetery.

 

[rkrosnar]

LineInTheSand,

This is very true, Some kids just "get it"....great story!!! However, there are others who do not. They let it to others, do to. Thank God for them.

RGK

 

[WAMom68]

RIP to all who have given their lives in service to our country. God Bless them and their families.

I am especially emotional today when thinking of those 6 soldiers from the 101st that were killed last week. 1st Lt. John M. Runkle is the first West Point grad to be killed that my son knew. He served in Iraq before attending West Point. His eulogy page: http://www.west-point.org/users/usma2009/65881/

 

[buff81]

Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.

Eternal Father, grant, we pray
To all Marines, both night and day,
The courage, honor, strength, and skill
Their land to serve, thy law fulfill;
Be thou the shield forevermore
From every peril to the Corps.

Eternal Father, Lord of hosts,
Watch o'er the men who guard our coasts.
Protect them from the raging seas
And give them light and life and peace.
Grant them from thy great throne above
The shield and shelter of thy love.

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
And those who on the ocean ply;
Be with our troops upon the land,
And all who for their country stand:
Be with these guardians day and night
And may their trust be in they might.

I have a book that tells the stories behind some well-loved hymns. When we sang this song in church yesterday, I was curious about its background and history.
Why were we singing the Navy Hymn in church?
Why was this in our hymnal?
I pulled this book out and this hymn was in it.
The original words were very different except for the first verse. The other 3 verses above were substituted later in place of the original ones.

19th century hymnbooks usually had many hymns of prayers about protecting travelers - in particular - sailors.
"Eternal Father, Strong To Save" is the most famous of the mariner hymns. It was written in 1869 by William Whiting of London who wrote it as a prayer for a friend who was sailing to America.
It was a favorite of FDR and was sung at his funeral.
It was also played when JFK's casket was carried up the steps of the U.S. Capitol to lie in state.

So, in its original context, it was not written for or about those serving in our military, but as a psalm asking for God's protection for a friend who was traveling across the ocean.