The below address was given at Newagen during the 2013 Memorial Day ceremonies held there. We print it now because it was supposedly sent to the newspaper via email, but for some reason, we never received it until this week.

I welcome you today on behalf of a great cloud of witnesses. We are truly blessed today by those who have gone before us, and by your presence here.

I bring thoughts out of a very brief text: Psalm 33:12 says, 'Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.' We have many memories as a nation and as individuals. Today, I feel moved to lift up this very special part of our national memory, that is our heritage of faith.

I know much has been said about “church and state,” freedom of religion, etc. I do not know all the answers to these issues, but I would share my belief that America is, in a very special sense, a Christian nation. How can this this be so? We as a nation cannot avoid the principles of Christianity. You could say it's part of our DNA. It is from this very place, exposed to time and tides, that the Pilgrims of Plymouth were fed, and thus were able to survive. Even those who believe otherwise are touched by this foundational truth.

It could still be said, as Rev. Halford Luccock did, decades ago that our Christian foundation gives us a heritage beyond our years. We are a young nation, by measure of our years. But that is not the whole story. Our adopting of Christian values makes us “older.” This was never a human, but rather a divine, choice.

By faith there is more to the life of America than our short years here on earth. The American nation is not as blessed as some with long centuries of memory. As we measure time, we are a relatively young nation. However, our heritage goes back farther than 1776 or even 1620, as important as those times are. Faith has more longevity than that; it has been formed from Biblical times onward.

Inscribed on most Christian Communion tables are the words of Scripture: "In Remembrance of Me." Thankfully, our memories are even deeper than we realize. Therefore, even our hard losses make us stronger.

When lives are cut short in so many ways, as in wartime, we nonetheless can be comforted. We know there is more to the lives of our personal loved ones than can be measured in years. I am not blessed to know personally all those whom we remember today, but I believe that we still inherit the blessings they bring, by faith. 'We do not grieve as those … who have no hope.' [I Thessalonians 4:13] Most Christian Communion tables are inscribed with the words of Christ: "Do this in Remembrance of Me."

The gift of memory is a very precious gift. How we use it is important. Remembering well is not just a matter of information. We remember well the lives of our nation and of our loved ones, as well we must. Let us also bring to remembrance our heritage of faith. Thank you, and God bless you all.