Memorial Day has evolved into a long holiday weekend in which people look forward to an extra day off work, swimming, sales at all the stores, cookouts, and gatherings with family and friends. The real reason for Memorial Day has shifted over time and, in some cases, has sadly been forgotten.
It began as a day of remembrance for all the lives lost in the Civil War. Major General John A. Logan of the Union Army issued General Order Number 11, also known as the "Memorial Day Act," which declared that the last day of May would be a day to decorate the graves of all the fallen soldiers in the Civil War with flowers. In short, the flowers were intended to be a kind of testimony to both present and future generations that the American people would not forget the profound "cost of a free and undivided republic," according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Over time, that remembrance was extended to include all military personnel who lost their lives in the course of defending and protecting America. The freedoms that we enjoy as they are laid out by the Constitution are some of the reasons why Memorial Day matters to Christians today.
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1. Freedom of Religion
1. Freedom of Religion
This country was founded on the right of each citizen to choose and practice their religious preference freely. In fact, many of the colonies that formed an alliance in 1776 to begin forming the United States of America were fleeing Europe because of religious persecution, according to the Library of Congress. Therefore, freedom of religion is guaranteed by the First Amendment. It also protects a person's right to explore the deep questions in life, publicly live out what they believe in a peaceful manner, and protects a person from being threatened or harassed for living out what they believe, according to Alliance Defending Freedom.
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2. Freedom of Speech
2. Freedom of Speech
While this is often connected with a person's freedom to speak their mind regarding politics, it also applies to religion. In America, the First Amendment protects our right to talk openly about Jesus anytime and anywhere. People can also pray publicly, whether that's in a restaurant over their meal, while standing on the street, walking through a park, at sporting events, or wherever they happen to be. Students are allowed to pray in school when it’s student-led. Most other countries around the world don't get to enjoy this freedom.
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3. Freedom to Assemble
3. Freedom to Assemble
The First Amendment gives Christians the right to assemble in a church building and hold a worship service—something people in many other countries can't legally do. According to the Constitution Center, it also gives all Americans the right to plan a peaceful protest, file a grievance against the government, form a picket line, hold a strike, or organize a parade.
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4. Freedom to Choose Our Leaders
4. Freedom to Choose Our Leaders
America is one of the few countries that gets to enjoy a peaceful transition of power. Anyone who is born in the country of America may choose to run for an elected office, whether that's a city council, a state office, or a federal office. Americans can vote their conscience for who leads this nation (whether Christian leaders or otherwise), as opposed to having to fight to oust some rogue leader. America's Constitution provides specific instructions for how elections are to be held and what to do if the government ever doesn't function in accordance with the Constitution.
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5. Our Military Protects Our Country
5. Our Military Protects Our Country
If it weren't for our military, we wouldn't get to enjoy living in a land that's free and safe from the invasion of foreign powers. Our military fights on our behalf so that we can live a peaceful life, work toward our dreams, and enjoy obtaining whatever our personal American dream happens to be. Our veterans deserve our gratitude, and they deserve to be honored for the sacrifices they make on behalf of the rest of the nation. While America may not be perfect, there's a reason more people are trying to become American citizens rather than leaving America.
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6. Freedom for States to Make Autonomous Decisions
6. Freedom for States to Make Autonomous Decisions
The Constitution's 10th Amendment allows states to create laws that the Constitution doesn't specifically cover. With the way the Constitution is designed, America's federal government actually has limited power. So if the majority of people in a state agree to something by majority vote, such as banning abortions, then abortion becomes illegal in that state, and a pro-life stance involving sanctity of life must be honored. For more information on how the 10th Amendment works, click here.
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7. America's Religious Freedoms Being Strengthened and Safeguarded
7. America's Religious Freedoms Being Strengthened and Safeguarded
A new office and commission were started this year as a way to strengthen and safeguard religious freedoms, which had gone through some erosion with previous administrations. Christians might want to take some time to remember and thank God that the White House Faith Office and the Religious Liberty Commission have been established. A few of the many freedoms upheld by these include:
- Upholding and protecting parental rights in religious education and homeschooling.
- Upholding and protecting the rights of citizens in matters of religious conscience.
- Strengthening the efforts of churches to protect children, women, and the institution of marriage.
- Strengthening the efforts of churches to assist with caring for and empowering those working to get free from addictions and break out of homelessness.
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Originally published May 06, 2025.
