Hello, thank you for joining me today on this special Memorial Day.

Periodically, I ask my friend medically retired Major William Osten to share a post with our Giving 15 family.

He always accommodates when his health allows.

I'm indebted to Will. He not only paid a great

physical price for me and you, but he also introduced me to the appeal to heaven flag, the story

of which impacted me greatly. Will bleeds, red, white, and blue. His post will inspire you today, I guarantee it.

His title is, inspiration from Billy Graham and Dwight Eisenhower. He says, as Americans celebrate

Memorial Day weekend with barbecues and baseball games,

parades and parties, which are all appropriate, it is imperative that we also spend focused

time remembering the purpose of this special day, namely to honor the sacrifices of the military fallen and their families.

Today is the 55th commemoration of Memorial Day in the 250th year of our beloved country's exceptional history.

As such, Will says, I thought it would be appropriate to glean

wisdom about the meaning of this noteworthy day from the relationship between one of America's

greatest preachers and greatest precedents. Billy Graham and Dwight Eisenhower enjoyed a close friendship that spanned multiple

decades. On one occasion in 1955, President Eisenhower allowed Reverend Graham to join him on a

tour of Gettysburg, the battlefield that turned the tide in the Civil War.

This experience made an immediate and significant impact on Graham.

Three weeks later, while in Boston, Graham delivered a speech to the veterans of foreign wars.

While this address was delivered several years before Memorial Day became an official

federal holiday in 1971, Graham's sentiments are spot on. The following are excerpts.

I have compiled, Will says, from his original message, quoting Dr. Graham.

This famous battlefield, Gettysburg, and hundreds of others like it, have become hollowed soil,

...