Honoring and Remembering Service Members

Today in the U.S., it is Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember those service members who died while in military service.  But, because the stakes are often so high, these days of remeberance often bubble over into other meanings.  Because we can never thank them enough, we thank veterans and active duty service members on this day.  And, Pagans remember Pagan members of the military who have passed on through the veil.  Special recognition placed on those Pagans who served and in death had to fight to be honored by a symbol of their religion in the Veteran's Pentacle Quest.   Jason from the Wild Hunt is right when he says that the level of Pagan involvement in our armed forces is increasing beyond our imagination.

Circle Sanctuary has an expanding network for military Pagans: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/ministries/military/

Star Foster wrote about Memorial Day on Patheos.com:
http://www.patheos.com/community/paganportal/

Jason talks about Pagans on Memorial Day on the Wild Hunt:
http://wildhunt.org/blog/2011/05/pagans-observe-memorial-day.html

I think about all of the people in my life who are active duty military or who are veterans of wars not so far in our past.  My thoughts go to my ancestors who were Patriots during the Revolutionary War.  I am a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where we serve God, Home, and Country in an effort to preserve and honor the legacy of freedom that our ancestors sacrificed their lives and fortunes to achieve.  My father's father was a sailor in World War II, just like our Revolutionary War ancestors.  My mother's father and my mother's step father both served in the military, but I am not quite sure which branch or in what capacity.  May they rest in peace.  These are the people in my family that I honor and remember today.

To those American service members who have passed on, we honor and remember you.  Thank you for your service to this country.  Your sacrifices are not forgotten.

Thank you to all of the Fireflies that serve or have served in the military.  We honor you, today, too.  Thank you for everything that you have done to preserve our freedom.

Blessed be.


Questions for reflections and sharing today:

1. Who do you remember on this Memorial Day?
2. Are you currently serving in the military?  If so, in what capacity?
3. What are your plans this Memorial Day?  Visit a cemetary?  Attend a parade? Lay by the pool?  Attend a cookout?
4. If you do not live in the U.S., can you tell us about Pagans serving in the military in your country?
5. If you do not live in the U.S., how does your country honor its service members?