by Jane Royer
Memorial Day brings a great sense of pride and appreciation for our service men and women and the freedoms they have fought for. Liberty doesn’t come without a price and the Church of Rio Linda honors all those who have served and sacrificed that we may enjoy the freedoms we have today.
Pictures of soldiers being reunited with spouses and children, family, and friends, are always heartwarming. My husband recalls the day he returned from military service several years ago. He was so glad to be home he knelt and kissed the tarmac at Fort Lewis, Washington. That first glimpse of home and family is something that is never forgotten.
Then we remember those who did not come home alive. Their families, with empty arms and aching, sorrowful hearts, will never know the thrill of looking for and finding that familiar face in the crowd. The ultimate sacrifice! The sense of loss must be indescribable. The fallen and wounded soldiers, and their families, deserve our utmost respect and appreciation. They surely live with the hope of a glad reunion day, someday.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic is one hymn we always sing on Memorial Day weekend. As voices join together, worship of God and appreciation for our liberty are closely intertwined. We strongly cling to the tenet that “His truth is marching on!” Experiencing the feeling of pride, and love for God and country brings emotion and reinforces the knowledge that God is still in control.
Join us at the Church of Rio Linda, 6550 Dry Creek Road, for Sunday services at 10:00am and 6:00pm. Remember, there’s a glad reunion day coming. Make sure you’re ready, and always remember that freedom isn’t free.
