On May 2, 1968, Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier voluntarily boarded a helicopter to rescue a trapped 12-man special Forces team surrounded by a North Vietnamese battalion. Despite being shot, hit by shrapnel, and bayoneted, he refused to stop fighting. He single-handedly saved the lives of eight fellow soldiers.

This is only one of millions of stories where Americans sacrificed greatly so future generations could live in freedom. John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

While we celebrate the freedom that these sacrifices provide, may we not forget the greater sacrifice — Jesus Christ laying down His life for our salvation.