As I sit at home after a long bike ride watching Taking Chance, I thought it would be great to compile a short list of some great things to read on this day when we honor those who gave their full measure of devotion to the cause of their brothers and sisters in arms.
This first one is from Faith and Leadership at Duke Divinity and contains three articles written by Chaplain Mel Baars and two by myself regarding veterans issues and dealing with tragedy in our midst. If you don't have time for them all, read Mel's as she's a much better writer than myself.
http://www.faithandleadership.com/features/articles/resources-for-memorial-day
The next is a great piece that was meant for Remembrance Day (our Veteran's Day). In England and other countries Armistice Day is a day to remember the fallen from the great wars.
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/11/armistice-day-the-forgotten-fields-of-flanders/66409/
And of course, the poem in Flanders Fields: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields
Here is a reflection by a Jewish Rabbi at the dedication of a cemetery on Iwo Jima in 1945: http://chaplaincorps.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/03/26/honoring-the-fallen-in-the-battle-of-iwo-jima-69-years-later/
I highly recommend watching President Regan's speech at the D-Day memorial in 1984: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEIqdcHbc8I
Finally, take an hour and a half and watch Taking Chance. It is a truly powerful depiction of how many people a fallen service member touches in his or her life and death.
