“How can we honor those who died in war” was the question raised at Brandywine Baptist Church’s annual Memorial Day ceremony.
The answer, according to Jim Heimberger, a missionary with the United World Mission, is for people to live their lives in service to others and to keep the United States a good country.
Instead of a career that would make one rich, Heimberger said young adults should opt for careers of service.
The ceremony, as is the tradition, featured an honor guard of former servicemen saluting the fallen and Boy Scouts and others placing flowers at the graves of those who served and are buried in the church cemetery.
Heimberger noted with a touch of irony that 1.2 million Americans have been killed in battle from the War of Independence against Great Britain to the present day. Yet, 3.5 million Americans have died on the nation’s roads since the automobile has been popular.
He said the reason people should honor the war dead is that while people in cars really don’t think about the danger, the soldier knows he might be killed.
Heimberger also said that the soldier who dies in battle dies not only to keep the suffering and danger away from us, but also to keep our freedoms here alive.
He asked what it’s like to not be free, and then answered his own question by pointing to other countries. Heimberger said the caste system in India prevents people from bettering themselves while in Muslims who convert to Christianity in Middle Eastern countries are often killed for their decision.
Top photo: Scouts lay flowers on the graves of those who served.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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