I met Mike Webb at a Young Life meeting in Springfield, Oregon. I was a student at the University of Oregon, and an assistant Young Life leader.

 

Michael was an enthusiastic, bright eyed young man who wanted his life to count. With great sadness and a broken heart he shared with me that his mother had committed suicide a few weeks earlier.  She had closed the garage door, climbed into the car, turned on the engine, opened the car windows, and died by asphyxiation.  Although it devastated Michael, and his family, he was determined to find answers and found them in Christ.

 

After college I went into the Navy and later heard that Michael had been killed in Vietnam. As often as I go to Washington D.C., I visit the Wall with the names of all who died in that war, and as so many others, I rub my fingers over Mike's name to bring his memory and sacrifice close.  I can only imagine the pain parents and loved ones feel after losing a son or daughter in war or simply in preparation to defend our God granted freedoms.

 

A few weeks ago I took my son Taylor (on the left) with me to the MayDay 2010 Prayer Rally. Taylor took the pictures - his first time to Washington D.C.  My son Stephen is on the right.

 

It is my prayer, and hopefully yours as well, that this generation in particular, and all Americans, will recognize that Memorial Day is remembering that others have given their lives through more than two centuries that we would remain a free people.  

 

May God bless you and yours as you remember, and give thanks.

 

David and Merrily Crowe