Because of them, we will hold elections this year. Because of them, we have jurors who decide our legal disputes. Because of them, we live in the richest, most powerful nation in the history of the world. We owe these privileges and the prosperity we enjoy to the men and women who died in combat for America.

For some of you, it was a son. For others, a husband or wife. Many of us have lost friends on the battlefield.

I remember the first time I experienced the loss. I was a child. The Vietnam War was underway. A lady in our church received the notification. Her son had been killed in combat. He had answered his country’s call and, now, she would never see him again.

Since then, there have been others. Of course, before him there were thousands of others. The World Wars, Korea, the Gulf Wars, the current war. What if they hadn’t gone? What if they had said, “I love my country, but...”?

There are many ways that we can serve our fellow mankind. Many of you serve at church. Others are active in service clubs. Some serve in law enforcement or in emergency rooms or as firefighters or educators. Some of you serve us through your businesses or in elected office.

But Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” The only reason that the rest of us are able to contribute to society is because brave and selfless men and women bought us that opportunity. The price they paid was their lives.

So, this weekend, we honor them. The 18 year old private. The 55 year old colonel. The loved ones they left behind.

Let’s salute them by living with the same courage and honor with which they died.