America is a nation of Memorials. Don’t think so? Check out these “best guess” totals from the AI app, ChatGPT: 260,000 war/battle/military memorials; 60,000 memorials to Presidents/statesmen/political leaders; 40,000 cultural/religious/scientific memorials; 40,000 tragedies/disasters/terrorism memorials. That makes for a total of approximately 400,000 memorials across America.
The memorials hosting the most millions-M, of visitors each year are:
1-Lincoln Memorial (DC), 8.1M; 2-Vietnam Veterans Memorial (DC), 6M; 3-World War II Memorial (DC), 5.12M; 4-Statue of Liberty (NY/NJ), 3.75M; 5-Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (DC), 3.5M; 6-Korean War Veterans Memorial (DC), 3.07M;7-Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch, St. Louis), 2.31M; 8-USS Arizona Memorial (HI), 2M; 9-Thomas Jefferson Memorial (DC), 1.95M; 10-Pentagon Memorial (VA), 1M; 11-Flight 93 National Memorial (PA), 378,000. So it is overwhelmingly true that our blessed country is a nation of memorials.
However, none of the above-mentioned memorials can even come close to the one that has 75M visitors each year (a very, very conservative estimate). Not even NFL football attendance, which is certainly no memorial, can top it (19M). Same goes for Major League Baseball attendance figures. Even with a schedule of 162 games + playoff games, it still falls 5M short. (70M)
America’s #1 memorial, with at least 75M visitors each year isn’t made of bronze or any type of metal. It isn’t carved from stone. It isn’t made of wood either. And yet it fits the 4 major types of memorials here in America.
First, war/battle/military memorials: It causes us to remember the profoundest war ever, the supreme victory of that war and the bravest hero there ever was.
Second, political leaders/Presidents/statesmen memorials: Without question, it directs our memory to the greatest leader of all time, the one who touched more lives than anyone ever has.
Third, cultural/religious/scientific memorials: The central figure of this memorial helped millions and millions of people find true peace in body, soul and spirit.
Fourthly, tragedies/disasters/terrorism memorials: Strangely, this memorial not only commemorates the greatest victory of any war, but it forces visitors to face the greatest tragedy in all of human history, the death of humanity’s #1 hero.
What then is America’s #1 memorial? If not made of metal, stone or wood, then what? It is made of 2 parts: a tiny bite of bread and a sip of the juice from some grapes. Unimpressive through most human eyes. But it isn’t an earthly memorial, it’s a heavenly one; it isn’t a physical memorial, but a spiritual one.
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”’
Then in the same way, after the supper, he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you in remembrance of me. And they all drank from it. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”
America’s most visited memorial is the Lord’s Supper, communion in a local church with other believers. 75M each year will remember the Lamb who willingly gave His body and shed His blood for the sins of all humanity. I wonder how many of that 75M will actually get to spend eternity with Jesus? Remember “faithfulness” is Jesus’ measuring stick.
Mike “Pawdad” Sublett, Pastor @ Hi-Land Christian Church, Pampa, Texas 79065, 630-730-8015
