Originally published in FaithCounts.com
Yesterday, I was speaking with a local Rutherford County high school teacher. I asked him about the behavior of students today. He responded in a somewhat saddened tone. “Mike, these students today don’t even stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance. I may have one student in my class who will stand. It’s a much different day.” I asked if I could come visit his class, but unfortunately it’s the last few days of school.
When he made that comment I thought of what President Ronald Reagan once said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
Sgt. Asbury “Freddie” Hawn understood that — and gave everything for it.
I thought I’d visit his classroom and I would share the story of my friend Sgt. Asbury “Freddie” Hawn, who was killed in Iraq. The memory of Freddie will always stay with me for the rest of my life. I had trained Freddie when he first came to work at the Nissan Motor Manufacturing plant in Smyrna. I had finally been offered a position on day shift after working five tireless years on night shift. A few years later, I left Nissan to start my own business, MidTnAutos.com — Tennessee’s first dot-com car business.
Freddie stopped by one day and said, “Mike, I need a truck. I’ve been deployed to Iraq.” Coincidentally, my late Scotch-Irish Catholic mother overheard him from the kitchen. She asked, “Son, can we pray for you?” We prayed for him, and sadly, not long after, I saw a television news report that he had been killed in Iraq. I attended his funeral and happened to sit next to Dan Whittle, a reporter with the Daily News Journal who was covering the service. When I heard the pastor mention all the military awards and honors Sgt. Hawn had received, I was deeply moved and thought to myself, “I worked with a hero and never knew it.”
I share this with readers because it saddens me that we may be losing our next generation. The stories I hear from teachers about the disrespect students sometimes exhibit are troubling — though certainly not all students. I know there are many awesome, respectful young people. I witnessed hundreds of them just last weekend while attending commencement ceremonies at Smyrna High School and Stewarts Creek High School, as well as at MTSU, where I watched my two interns — Tiffany Parker and Jacob Pagel — graduate.
I don’t have all the answers on how we address the challenges facing the next generation — from escalating mental health issues, record suicide rates, addiction, affordable housing, job opportunities, inflation, and civil discourse — just to name a few.
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As we observe Memorial Day, we not only remember the fallen but also reflect on the deeper spiritual significance this day holds. While it is a time for honoring those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, Memorial Day is also an opportunity to explore how our faith can amplify the meaning of this somber occasion. The themes of sacrifice, love, and rebirth resonate deeply within religious traditions, offering a powerful lens through which to understand and appreciate the true essence of this day.
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