Why do we honor the dead?

Why do we honor the dead?

Memorial Day has come and gone,
flags to honor the fallen too are gone.
We have a tomb in Washington,
a soldier known by only God.
They change the guard with great precision,
with solemn ceremony they protect.
The home of the brave and the free,
We’ve chosen one unknown soldier,
a man who represents in silence
the sacrifice of all who rest.

I’m not much of a poet, the spirit is willing … I read Gunner’s post at Target Centermass, (linked via title bar) and came away with a question; are these Memorial Day ceremonies a simple military display or does it go much deeper?

I watched the changing of the guard at the tomb of The Unknown Soldier many years ago on a television special; so long ago that I remember it in black and white. I came away with the distinct feeling that I’d observed a religious ceremony, something so sacred as to honor not only the unknown soldier who rests within that tomb; but to honor God who looks after the spirits of all the fallen in defense of freedom.

Why do we honor the dead if the dead are not? Our continued ceremonies, our supplications toward the Heavens are wasted if the resurrection has no power. If we hold that the resurrection has power then we acknowledge our Creator, the Savior Himself; but we are not permitted to honor our God because we have, as the Supreme Court has ruled, a separation of church and state. Do you see where this is going?

The meticulous grooming of each who performs the changing of the guard may not be an officially recognized religious ceremony, one that silently offers our prayers for His constant assistance along with our eternal gratitude for all that He has done to preserve us this nation; so let’s not tell the ACLU that somehow one slipped past them.