During my sabbatical we visited Edinburgh Castle. The Honours of Scotland, the Scottish crowned jewels, are displayed there along with The Stone of Destiny. The Half Moon Battery is a large display of cannons that point towards the city through the castle’s high walls.  The different Scottish Royal regiments have displays in the National War Museum and Regimental Museums. Lots and lots of history.

In the center of it all is the Scottish National War Memorial. The former North Barracks was altered to create the memorial to men and women who never came back from the First World War.  It is a massive,  impressive and moving remembrance dedicated to those  who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The National Memorial was opened in 1927.

The First World War was to be the last of wars. Everyone wanted to believe that never again the world would  see such a global conflict. Just a little more than a decade after the opening of the Memorial another World War shattered the lives of so many for generations to come.

Men and Women have given their lives in fighting these global wars. They given their lives to protect their homelands and homelands of others so that the next generations could live in peace.

In America we mark the end of the First World War (11 Nov 1918) on November 11 with Veterans Day. Other countries call it Remembrance Day.

On November 11, let us pray for all veterans and remember all who gave the ultimate sacrifice and all veterans who served in conflicts and wars and now live with that story.  Let us pray for those who are in the midst of war on their homeland, may peace come quickly.

Let us pray:

Gracious God, we remember those served to protect others from harm and war all over the world. So many gave their life or a part of their lives so others may live in freedom, safety and peace.

Holy and Loving God, we give you thanks for the veterans among us, those living and the saints who have gone before. We give thanks for their sacrifice and weep for them and those who loved them.

We pray for actively serving members of the uniformed services and ask your protection over them and their families. Comfort those who mourn. Help us to find ways to bind up the wounds, both visible and invisible, of veterans and their families.

Guide us, Lord, as we seek to love our neighbors who are veterans and render them honor. Heal our brokenness and bring us together as your people. And lead us, God, to work together toward the pursuit of your promised reign when nation shall not lift sword against nation, and neither shall we learn war anymore.

God of grace and love, we pray for outbreak of peace throughout the world. We know that maybe unrealistic but as people of hope we boldly and confidently  pray for your peace to spread throughout the globe. Amen.