John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."
Today marks the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. With tomorrow being Veterans Day, I thought it a good time to salute those who today, and in the past, have served and often made the ultimate sacrifice for us as citizens and our nation.
I have many friends, including several here on Facebook, who have served in the Marines and the other branches of our armed services. I have even more who have children who are currently serving, placing themselves in harms way, so that we may continue to enjoy the freedoms guaranteed by our constitution. I myself never served, but am eternally grateful for the patriotism and selflessness demonstrated by these brave men and women.
The Marines were founded at the founding of our nation. They are universally recognized as having paid the highest cost by percentage of any branch of the military. All of our military arms have paid a high cost, but the Marines have often been first in at some of the more difficult battles in our nations history. Here in South Carolina, we are blessed to have strong ties to the Marines with the Paris Island Training Center located on our coast in Beaufort.
The verse above from John 15:13 has Jesus speaking of his forthcoming death on the cross to His disciples. I'd like to paraphrase it and apply it to our armed services; "Greater love has no one for his nation than to lay down his life for it." Today, and tomorrow on Veterans Day, let us truly appreciate the gift that the lives of our fighting men and women has purchased for us. Freedom is not free. It comes with a cost, many times a very high one. It is won, not given or granted. And ours has been won by the price of blood, just as our ultimate freedom in Christ was won at the expense of His blood.
So happy birthday Marines! And thank you Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard and Coast Guard for your valiant service and sacrifice. May God build a hedge around you as you fight for our continued freedom. I am reminded of the words of the great Army general Douglas MacArthur, after he retired in a speech at West Point. When asked what his last thoughts we be on earth, he replied, "the corps, and the corps, and the corps." Let us never allow these true Americans to slip from our thoughts and prayers. Oooooooooh-raaaaaaaaaah!
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