Every November 11, our nation pauses to honor those who have served in uniform. Veterans Day is one of those rare civic holidays that seems to belong to all of us. Whatever our background or beliefs, we know what it means to say thank you and we seek to mean it.
For some of us, Veterans Day brings faces to mind: a grandparent or parnet, sibling, neighbor, or friend. For others, it carries memories of deployment, sacrifice, or grief. The stories vary, but the gratitude is shared. I think that’s part of what makes this day set apart in its own way it invites us to pause, remember, and give thanks.
As United Methodists, our Social Principles remind us that “war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ,” yet they also affirm the sacred worth of those who serve and sacrifice for the sake of others. That tension is something I carry each year on this day. How do we hold deep respect for those who serve without glorifying war itself?
Jesus once said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) It’s striking that Jesus didn’t say peace-lovers but peacemakers. Peace isn’t just the absence of conflict; it’s the presence of justice, compassion, and courage. And making peace takes work. Sometimes it even takes people willing to enter dangerous places to protect others.
That’s one of the things I most admire about many veterans I’ve known. They understand the cost of conflict, and they long for peace not as an ideal but as a lived reality. I’ve sat beside veterans who pray more fervently than anyone I know for the day when nations “learn war no more.” (Isaiah 2:4)
I remember one veteran who once told me, “I didn’t serve because I loved fighting. I served because I loved my brothers and sisters and I had to do what I could to keep them safe.” That line stayed with me. It reminds me of Jesus’ own words in John 15:13: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
That’s the kind of love that transcends politics or ideology. It’s the kind of love that makes sacrifice sacred. The deepest kind of service is always rooted in love. And love, as we know as Christians, is at the heart of discipleship.
When we honor veterans, we’re careful to not celebrate war or Christian Nationalism. We’re recognizing courage, sacrifice, and service– the very virtues Jesus modeled in laying down his life for others. Christians are called to honor that spirit wherever we find it, while continuing to pray and work for the day when swords are beaten into plowshares.
This year, as we give thanks for our veterans, I find myself thinking of what it means to follow Jesus as both grateful citizens and committed disciples. The gospel calls us to love our neighbors and our enemies, to seek reconciliation, and to embody compassion in a world that often glorifies power. Veterans Day gives us space to do both: to honor those who’ve served in the name of protection and freedom, and to renew our commitment to the Prince of Peace.
Maybe the best way we can honor veterans is by working for the kind of world where their sacrifices are no longer needed. I think that doesn’t diminish their service but it fulfills its purpose.
So this Veterans Day, let’s pray for all who serve, for their families, and for our leaders. Let’s remember those who came home wounded in body, mind, or spirit. Let’s also remember those who never made it home at all. And let’s recommit ourselves to being peacemakers –people who use our words, our resources, and our influence to heal division and sow hope. Because the kingdom Jesus announced isn’t built on victory or vengeance. It’s built on sacrificial love.
A Prayer for Veterans Day
God of peace,
We give you thanks for those who have served and sacrificed,
For courage that protects, for love that endures.
Guard those who continue to serve,
Heal those scarred by war,
And guide us all toward your vision of peace.
Make us peacemakers in our homes, our communities, and our world.
In the name of the Prince of Peace, Amen.
