"There are certain things in life too beautiful to be forgotten."

From Venerable Fulton Sheen's Wartime Prayer Book (originally published 1943 as Armor of God):

"There are certain things in life too beautiful to be forgotten. That is why we revere the sacrifice of our soldiers on Memorial Day. The most beautiful thing about the life of our Lord was His death. Everyone else came into the world to live; He came into it to die; 'to give His life as a ransom for many' (Matt. 20:28)

"His death was the one thing He wished to have remembered.  He did not ask that men should write down His words in books. He did not ask that His deeds be recorded in history.  But He did ask that men remember his death."

 

Also from Wartime Prayer Book:
A prayer from a Soldier in France, Joyce Kilmer (1886 - 1918)

My shoulders ache beneath my pack
(Lie easier, Cross, upon His back).

I march with feet that burn and smart

(Tread, Holy Feet, upon my heart).

Men shout at me who may not speak
(They scourged Thy back and smote Thy cheek).

I may not lift a hand to clear
My eyes of salty drops that sear.

(Then shall my fickle soul forget
Thy agony of Bloody Sweat?)

My rifle hand is stiff and numb
(From Thy pierced palm red rivers come).

Lord, Thou didst suffer more for me
Than all the hosts of land and sea.

So let me render back again
This millionth of Thy gift. Amen.