July 2, 2008 + Happy Birthday America! + Hayward Fong

Psalm 133; Hebrews 10:1-10

Next Friday, July 4th, we celebrate the 232nd birthday of our country, The United States of America. Since the date falls on a Friday, many people will make it a three day holiday weekend. With the price of gasoline as it is, I suspect many families will be staying close by home. There will undoubtedly be the traditional picnics and perhaps some patriotic parades. I do hope there will be some observances in recognition of what the Day stands for. With the tinder dry brush conditions, I also hope people will realize the high danger of wild fires associated with neighborhood firework displays.

On July 4, 1776, there was signed in the City of Philadelphia one of America’s historic documents: The Declaration of Independence. It marked the birth of this nation which, under God, was destined for world leadership.

We often forget, in declaring independence from an earthly power, our forefathers made a forthright declaration of dependence upon Almighty God. The closing words of this document solemnly declare: “With firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

The fifty-six courageous men who signed this document understood that this was not just high sounding rhetoric. They knew that if they succeeded, the best they could expect would be years of hardship in a struggling new nation. If they lost, they would face a hang man’s noose.

It is important to remember certain facts about the men who made this pledge; they were not poor men by any stretch of the imagination. Most of them enjoyed much ease and luxury in their personal lives. They were wealthy landowners, respected men in their communities.

But they considered liberty much more important than the security they enjoyed, and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. They fulfilled their pledge. They paid the price. And freedom was won.

Of the fifty-six, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes, from Rhode Island to Charleston, sacked, looted, occupied by the enemy, or burned. Two lost their sons in the army. One had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six died in the war, from its hardships or from its bullets. It has been said, “To be born free is a privilege. To die free is an awesome responsibility.”

Freedom is never free. It is always purchased at a great cost. On the signing of The Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, “I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states; yet, through all the gloom I can see the rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means.”

I have often wondered how the course of history would have changed if King George had been more understanding of what the colonies were seeking.

In the name of preserving our freedom and bringing freedom to people living under totalitarian rule, President Bush ordered military invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Over 4,500 of our nation’s finest have made the supreme sacrifice in the name of freedom. Five hundred of these were from the State of California. Tens of thousand more have been wounded. Many will never be restored to full health, physically or mentally. Countless families have been destroyed by divorce as a result of this war. On top of this have been ten-fold civilian casualties and billions of dollars in destroyed infrastructure in the two nations.

However ill-advised this and other pre-emptive military actions may prove to be, our government tries to console those who sacrificed for our freedom that the end was worth the painful means. So their sacrifices may not have been made in vain, we, as citizens of the United States of America, have the solemn responsibility to elect to positions of leadership men and women who will assure that the sword we draw will ever be the sword of righteousness. Only then can we expect men and women of integrity to come forward and pay the price to preserve our America.

As I look about this chapel on Wednesday mornings, I can sense what America stands for. We exemplify brotherhood and religious freedom. Though we try to see ourselves as “one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all,” some of our citizens have not yet fully attained those rights and others who have, do not appreciate what a privilege it is to live in a land where it is possible to reach for an ideal like that.

Where would we, who are citizens of the United States of America, be today if there had not been those who counted the cost of freedom and willingly paid for it? To them who sacrificed for our freedom through the years, the end was worth the painful means. Where will we be tomorrow if men and women of integrity do not come forward and pay the price to preserve our America?

Earlier this month in our Wednesday Service, I lamented the fact that I don’t see our nation’s flag displayed prominently in my community even on National holidays and felt that the finest place to plant our flag is in the schools where the little ones first learn what it means to be an American.

I have told this story before, but it is well worth repeating.

Several years ago, I attended a Neighborhood Council meeting conducted by Councilman Eric Garcetti at the Micheltorena Elementary School. Since I arrived early, I wandered in the hallway and looked at essays posted on the bulletin board…essays written by 5th graders on the American flag in observance of Flag Day, June 14th. Tears welled in my eyes as I read what the American flag meant to these pre-teen age children. From their names, I concluded that most of them were from Latino and Asian families. They were learning their first lessons in what it meant to be an American with a flag standing for a heritage of courage, liberty and loyalty which we’ve been given and a future they will be making.

Freedom. The very word stirs the blood. Freedom to assemble, to speak out, to vote, to choose without coercion among different religions and denominations, and within a religion our place to worship. As we approach another Independence Day, let us resolve with God’s help to work together with courage and determination to make freedom more than merely a word.

Picture the prayers of men like Washington, Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Patrick Henry rising up through the dark skies of uncertainty until they “came up to His holy dwelling place,” exploding there before God’s throne like a shower of golden stars. They knew that there would be differences among the leadership in the years to come, much like that which they experienced as they embarked on this journey. Having witnessed tyrannical rule by the crown of England, these men, in their wisdom, formed this nation to be ruled by constitutional law, not by men. We have seen in recent years challenges to our basic human rights in the name of national security. If our nation is to survive as a bastion for human dignity, freedom, and justice we must never forget the sacred words of this document which gave birth to our nation, The Declaration of Independence.

On this nation’s birthday, let us offer up to Almighty God our prayers of thanksgiving for our forbearers, but more importantly to seek strength to stand up and be counted when circumstances require. We can do no less for the legacy we have received.