PCN, from time to time a Pilot Author or Family member publishes a book that may be of interest to our group. Kathryn has published Express Malice and here is her info below also now added to our Author List at:
http://pcn.homestead.com/Authors.html
Hill, Kathryn EXPRESS MALICE (Being adapted for a
future movie)
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Guest column: This Memorial Day, faith should
help us build a country worth fighting for
By REV. MARGARET ERNST |
May 26, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.
This
Memorial Day weekend, our hearts are breaking.
As we
remember and honor the lives of those who died in military service, their
memories live alongside those we have lost to the many other struggles that
have become part of our daily life: our loved ones lost to COVID-19, to
addiction, to gun violence, to mental health crisis and suicide, and so much
more.
This
week, I got a message from a friend in Texas with four words: “Oh no. Another
shooting.”
My
heart seized as it did 10 days prior when a friend from Buffalo sent this
terrifying reassurance: “Don’t know if you’ve seen the news. But we’re safe.”
Our
nation is ripped open again in grief in the hours and days since these
shootings have occurred. We have meanwhile passed a milestone that feels
impossible to wrap one’s head around: 1 million deaths from COVID-19. That’s 1
million Americans: 1 million mothers, fathers, Pop Pop’s, Nanas, aunts, uncles,
children, co-workers and friends. In Berks and Montgomery counties alone, we
have lost over 3,800 people to COVID-19.
It is
easy to become numb to such loss. But Memorial Day reminds us of the importance
and power of memory. On Memorial Day, we refuse to let the lives of soldiers
who died in wars become invisible. They too were fathers, brothers, sisters,
mothers, and beloved friends. To honor their memory, we have the responsibility
to work together to create a country and society that is worth fighting for.
As a
Christian pastor, I serve communion on the first Sunday of the month. Every
time we do communion, we remember Jesus’ broken body. In making Jesus’ body
visible, we make all broken bodies visible. We refuse to forget the
consequences of human violence: those lost because of our inaction, or because
of our desire for power, control, and greed. In times like these, faith and
spirituality give us the capacity to feel the pain of our world while refusing
to accept unjust suffering as the norm.
We
need a faith that gives us courage to act because the reality is that we are
hurting. We are grieving, no matter how much that grief might be buried under
the stuff of our daily lives.
None
of us want to live in a county, state, or country where we have to fear losing
our lives to so many causes to which there are solutions, even when we disagree
about those solutions. Faith should not lead us to put our heads in the sand or
sit in our own partisan bubbles. It should equip us for action and for complex
conversations across our differences of how, through both policy changes and
individual changes, we can make the world a better place.
And
so we will not forget. We will not forget our loved ones lost to war. We will
not forget our loved ones lost to COVID-19. We will not forget the victims of
gun violence in Uvalde, in Buffalo, in Parkland, and in our own neighborhoods.
No
matter who you voted for or no matter what your beliefs are about solutions to
violence, to the pandemic, and beyond, may our patriotism this year be the kind
that gives us the faith to work together for a country worth living in. A
country we are proud of — where we all are safe, where we all are well, and
where truly each one of us, even with our differences, can thrive.
Rev.
Margaret Ernst is pastor of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Birdsboro.
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Honor Our Heroes With These Memorial Day
Messages and Quotes
Memorial Day
is one of the United States’ most poignant federal holidays. It’s a day to
remember and honor those who have lost their lives in military service.
The national
holiday reflects on those lost in service through many historic battles,
including the Civil War, World War II, and more recent conflicts. Many of us
come together as a community to watch parades, visit memorials, or host
barbecues or picnics with friends and family. This theme of remembrance is
shared with other similar holidays, like Veterans Day which honors those who have served in the Armed Forces.
Whether you’re
planning an event to remember our fallen heroes on Memorial Day or you’re
looking for something to share with loved ones, the right words can help create
a moment. Here are some of our favorite Memorial Day message options and
greetings for your invitations, greeting cards, and decor.
Heartwarming Memorial Day Messages to Share
A longstanding
Memorial Day tradition for some families is to get together and mark the
holiday weekend with good food and good company. The Memorial Day weekend
unofficially marks the start of Summer, so it’s the perfect time for an outdoor
event or a cozy gathering centered around gratitude and remembrance.
Memorial Day Greetings
If you’re
hosting a Memorial Day cookout or event this year, here’s some inspiration for
your invitations. With a mix of shorter and longer messages, these Memorial Day
message options are the perfect way to honor the spirit of the holiday in your
cards or invitations.
- Thank you to the brave men and women who
have made the ultimate sacrifice.
- Let us remember those who courageously
gave their lives.
- Join us as we remember and honor our
heroes.
- Let’s use today to count our blessings
and stand proud.
- Honoring our nation’s heroes on Memorial
Day.
- We wish you a beautiful Memorial Day
weekend.
- Today we honor those who made a great
sacrifice for us.
- Let’s remember our fallen service
members with pride this Memorial Day.
- Together we pay homage to those who have
given us our freedom.
- We salute our fallen and give thanks on
this Memorial Day.
- Today we express our gratitude to our
fallen heroes.
- In remembrance of our heroes on this
Memorial Day.
- Wishing you a memorable Memorial Day
weekend.
- Today we honor those who have made the
greatest sacrifice.
- Sending you warm wishes on this day of
remembrance.
- Honoring our heroes who served to hold
our flag high.
- Let us gather together in celebration of
those who have fallen.
Honorable Memorial Day Quotes
Sometimes a
card or party decor calls for an inspiring or heartwarming quote of
remembrance. These Memorial Day quotes pay respects to those servicemen and
women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, while carrying the spirit of their
legacy.
- “May we never forget that freedom isn’t
free.”
- “In memory of many, in memory of all”
- “We don’t know them all, but we owe them
all.”
- “Never forget, ever honor”
- “Fallen, but not forgotten”
- “Our flag doesn’t fly because the wind
moves it, but because of the last breath of each soldier who died
protecting it.”
- “We come not to mourn our dead heroes
but to praise them.”
- “Home of the free because of the brave”
- “We stand for the flag, we kneel for the
fallen.”
- “All gave some, some gave all. Remember
them this Memorial Day.”
- “Death leaves a heartache no one can
heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
Famous Memorial Day Quotes
With Memorial
Day playing a big part in our culture, it’s no surprise that there’s a growing
collection of quotes from famous figures and celebrities. These Memorial Day
quotes work well as a standout greeting on one side of your invitation or as a
dedication below your event details.
- “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant
women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned
our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.” –
Harry S. Truman
- “For the love of country they
accepted death, and thus renounced all debts, and made immortal their
patriotism and their virtue.” – James A. Garfield
- “Our nation owes a debt to its fallen
heroes that we can never fully repay.” – Barack Obama
- “In the end, we will remember not the
words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther
King, Jr.
- “A hero is someone who has given his or
her life to something bigger than oneself.” – Joseph Campbell
- “No arsenal, or no weapons in the
arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free
men and women.” – Ronald Reagan
- “My fellow Americans, ask not what your
country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” – John F.
Kennedy
- “Those who have long enjoyed such
privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” –
Franklin D. Roosevelt
- “The highest obligation and privilege of
citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country.” – George S.
Patton, Jr.
- “How important it is for us to recognize
our heroes and she-roes.” – Maya Angelou
- “Courage is almost a contradiction in
terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to
die.” – G.K. Chesterton
- “What I can do for my country, I am
willing to do.” – Christopher Gadsden
- “Without memory, there is no culture.
Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.” –
Elie Wiesel
- “Heroes never die. They live on forever
in the hearts and minds of those who would follow in their footsteps.” –
Emily Potter
- “Regard your soldiers as your children,
and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your
own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.” – Sun Tzu
- “As we express our gratitude, we must
never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to
live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
- “The willingness of America’s veterans
to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.” –
Jeff Miller
Our Best Cards to Accompany Your Memorial Day Greetings
Hosting a
Memorial Day weekend celebration is a great way to bring people together around
a common cause. Make the process easier to manage with digital Memorial Day invitations or ecards where you can email out invites and manage RSVPs
in one place. Here are some of our top Memorial Day invitations and cards to
spread the word about your event.
Swim & Sun Invitation
Design:
Niru & Baku
Mark the start
of summer and invite your closest friends to join you for a poolside Memorial
Day celebration with this modern yet timeless invitation.
Trendy Gingham Invitation
Design:
Jen Montgomery
Whether you’re
hosting a picnic in your garden or at a park close to a Memorial Day
parade, this classic gingham design adds a touch of nostalgia.
Cheers & Beers Invitation
Design:
Clementine Creative
Invite your
friends and family to your home for a casual Memorial Day party with this fun, modern invitation centered around enjoying a drink together.
Have a Memorable Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day
is the perfect opportunity to take a step back and remember those who have
played a part in creating the life we enjoy. These famous quotes and
inspirational greetings are a great way to share gratitude and give thanks on
Memorial Day cards, social media posts, and event banners. Whether you’re
playing host to close friends at home or spending Memorial Day weekend at the
parade with family members, we hope you have a great holiday.
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