HELEN SANDERS
5-25-2026
MEMORIAL DAY

I was raised in a small town in West Central, lower Michigan. There wasn’t a year that I lived there that I did not remember a “Memorial Day” parade. The soldiers from all wars would be in the parade, dressed in full uniform. They were from WWI, WWII, The Korean War, the Viet Nam War and after I left, those that served in the Gulf war and Afghanistan.They marched to honor those that had given their lives in combat.

Many people had American flags in their hands and waved and saluted the soldiers as they passed by. I always had tears when I saw this, because I knew there were many that “never came home.”

I consider myself a patriot. I love my country. My father was in WWI as a young man that went in underage because he wanted to serve. He was not in long before WWI ended. His brother, my uncle, was in WWII. I am the wife of a Navy veteran, and the sister of two brothers [one deceased] that also are retired Navy veterans. They served our country during the Viet Nam war and came home. Our granddaughter was part of the National Guard, and a great granddaughter served in the Navy along with several nephews that served in the Coast Guard, and in other facets of the military.

Many of my classmates did not come home and others came home missing limbs. I honor all of them today for the service they gave.

There are others that I honor today too. Those that have been on the Front Line for Jesus. Those that have given their all to get the gospel out to nations and bring truth to the body of Christ. I could list many, but I do not like to drop names. These men and women of God changed my life, and thousands of others. Some were just lay people that loved Jesus and loved to share his love and light. Many have gone home to be with the Lord, hearing, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

As we celebrate Memorial Day, let us not forgot those that paid the price with their lives for God, and for country!

Have a blessed day!