As we celebrate Memorial Day, a day rightly set aside to honor the fallen from past wars, those men and women from the military services who gave all to provide liberty to us, are on the forefront of my mind.
But the way my mind works – I also can’t help but think about the tests to religious liberty we have experienced in just the last couple years and then reflect on the men and women who fell during the first winter at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. While they were not serving in the military, they laid down their lives to begin a foundation for what 150 years later would become The United States of America.
In history class we learn about Pilgrims who escaped not only the tyranny of high taxes and high government debt, but most importantly came to the new world to start a new life seeking religious liberty, and forming a new government which originated with the Mayflower Compact.
45 of the 102, or 44 %, of those who came on the first ship died that first winter – including the wife of their leader, William Bradford. Despite that horrific percentage, when given the opportunity to return to The Old World the following spring, not one of the remaining 57 choose to give up on the generational inheritance they had committed in their hearts and minds to provide for us.
On March 2, 2012 I shared with those who follow my blog, and are on my e-mail list about Kirk Cameron’s one night Simulcast of the movie Monumental.
This weekend I shared with a very good friend the importance of that movie – and after spending yesterday evening reflecting on it – I decided I want to encourage you to not only enjoy the BBQ’s, Parades, Beer, Wine and Soda’s as we celebrate those who gave all – but to invest a little time with your family either today or in the coming week to learn about this amazing group, who gave 44 % of their population some 395 years ago, that we may “stand on their backs,” and enjoy the fruit of their investment to the cause of liberty.
For those who subscribe to Amazon Prime, the movie is available via streaming. To those who do not, you can enjoy a 30 day free trial of Amazon Prime in order to watch this film.
In order to pass the baton of Liberty on to our children and grandchildren, we truly need to understand the lives of those who came before us – and investing the time in this movie, with our families, I believe, will help us understand this inter-generational baton race each of us are a part of.
May God Bless you and you family on this beautiful holiday weekend – and may we both individually and collectively bless God, in order that He may choose to bless our very much loved republic.
Scott Cooper
P.S. In addition to the encouragement to watch the movie – I want to provide you with three things –
1. Glenn Beck in February 2012 interviewed Kirk Cameron about Monumental. It is a good explanation of the “why” behind the movie. I would encourage you to watch it!
- One of my favorite video’s from Michael W. Smith – reflecting on our Flag –
- To those who served – but are still with us – Thank you!
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