Empty Boots

Those who gave their all made our life possible and showed us how best to live it.

This is a day to remember those who died, to honor their memory, to consider that for which they gave all, to ask ourselves if we are living worthy of such a gift.

While few things are more certain in this broken world than than the awful scourge of war, it is vital that you and I remember the cost. We must remember the boots, leaving cherished homes and villages; marching away from family and friends to serve the fatherland and preserve freedom. In the last century those boots in trains and ships, half-tracks, trucks, airplanes and submarines, in tents in Iraq or colossal buildings like the Pentagon – those boots numbered 10's of millions of our friends and fellow citizens.

• WWI saw 9 million register to join the cause, a stunning 9 percent of our population.

• WWII engaged over ten million souls in the global struggle on behalf of our great nation.

• The Korean conflict enlisted well over 3 million soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors.

• The Vietnam struggle pulled 9 million of our best into the conflict.

• And the wars since Vietnam, especially in the Middle East have sent millions of our men and women around the world to serve in circumstances stifling in every way, while others dutifully leave family and other life loves to serve at home and other posts.

The toll of this commitment is unspeakably hard, a steady faithfulness that requires diligence and perseverance beyond knowing. Most of us know little of it – it defies experience and comprehension.

But today it is for our good to remember those boots. And we are especially here today to remember the empty boots – the ones that left full of life and vitality, carrying courageous, devoted souls and returned empty or not at all to loved ones heart-broken.

We remember them today to let their loved ones and all of us dare to believe that the loss was worth it, that their loss gains for us a continuing heritage of freedom, that we rightly honor those who gave, in Lincoln's words, “the last full measure of devotion. It is fitting and proper that we do this.”

Let us remember today with gratitude, with honor, with devotion: receiving the gift they gave and pledging anew to earn it by living a life worthy of their loss.

Let us remember the empty boots.

• The 117,000 that never returned from the ghastly two years we fought in WWI.

• The 417,000 dead in WWII – nearly 300 soldiers a day for the duration of the war.

• The 54,000 who never returned from Korea

• The 58,000 lost to the Vietnam conflict, 61% of whom were not yet 21.

• And let us remember the nearly 8,000 who have died in conflicts since 1990.

It is good to see again the transforming power gained when we are willing to give all. This willingness means some will indeed fall, they will in actuality make that ultimate sacrifice. And the countless crosses on so many hillsides are testament to the greatness of those who laid down their lives so we could live, and live free.

Today I want to remember, and pray for grace to live in such a way that brings life-changing strength for all I know and love, and for our great nation in the hard days ahead. 

Those who gave their all made our life possible and showed us how best to live it.