Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
There are moments in history that leave marks too deep for time to erase. Wars are among them. They shape generations, redefine communities, and leave behind both visible and invisible wounds. For those who have served — and for those who have loved them — these marks are carried long after the conflict ends.
Memorial Day invites us into a sacred pause. It is more than a long weekend or the unofficial start of summer. It is a day set apart to remember, intentionally and reverently, those who gave their lives in service to others. It is also a day to acknowledge the quiet grief carried by families, friends and communities who continue living in the absence of someone they love.
Remembrance is not passive. It asks something of us. It calls us to see the cost of sacrifice, to honor it not only with words but also with presence. For some, this remembrance is expressed in ceremonies and flags placed beside gravestones. For others, it is found in silence, in tears or in stories shared around a table.
As people of faith, we are also called to care. To stand beside those who mourn. To listen without rushing. To offer comfort not just through words but also through companionship. Sometimes the most meaningful ministry is simply refusing to let someone grieve alone.
We may not fully understand the weight carried by those who have experienced war firsthand or the depth of loss felt by their families. But we can be a community that bears witness to their stories. We can be people who embody compassion, extending grace and support in both small and profound ways.
Our denomination has over 120 chaplains serving in the Veterans Affairs hospitals, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the military, and they are ministering within a broader community where that reality is an indelible part of their life journey. While it will be a day for remembrance, as chaplains, it is, more importantly, a time to share a prayer, offer a shoulder to cry on, counsel, or walk in silence, but never alone. Hopefully, it will become an indelible support in a time of remembering.
On this Memorial Day, may we remember with gratitude. May we honor with humility. And may we walk alongside those who carry loss, offering them the steady reminder that they are not alone.
Rev. Dennis Hysom, Executive Director, Presbyterian Federal Chaplaincies
Let us join in prayer for:
Jessica Kelley, Senior Acquisitions Editor, Publishing & Editorial, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Wilson Kennedy, Associate Director, Annual Giving, Administrative Services Group
Let us pray:
God of mercy and peace, we remember today those who gave their lives in service to others. We honor their sacrifice and hold in our hearts the families who continue to feel their absence. Teach us to be people of compassion and be ready to listen, to comfort and to stand with those who grieve. May we reflect your love in our care for one another. Amen.
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