You and Aaron are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army. Numbers 1:3 (New International Version, NIV)

A patriot is one who is devoted to his or her country. Our nation is a nation of patriots, people dedicated to defending the principles and ideals upon which we were founded. And those principles and ideals are based on the Word of God. Our founders dedicated this nation to God, and it is still one nation under God today.

Among the most ardent patriots are those who have been called and who have chosen to defend this nation and her guiding values through military service. These are men and women who have answered the call to protect the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. In defending the USA, they are defending freedom and the Christian heritage we hold dear.

Today we remember and honor those who gave the utmost; their lives, to fight for God and country. It is a small thing for us to spend one day a year to meditate on so great a sacrifice. One day to honor those who gave everything they had to protect us. We honor them collectively this day and thank the Lord for what they did for us. And as we enjoy the liberties that their lives paid for, let us hold them in our hearts every day. Let us also pray for and help the families who lost loved ones. We owe them all our undying gratitude, and we are humbled by their devotion to us and our nation. God bless their sacrifice, and God bless the United States of America.

The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name. Exodus 15:3 (NKJV)