He’d been teaching school for two years when the war began. He was only twenty-one, a little above average height, with fair skin, blue eyes, and light hair.  The young Continental Army was facing the enemy across the East River, not knowing what their plans might be.  Fearing surprise more than anything, General Washington wanted someone to slip across the lines and gather information.  Spying is a dirty job, and nobody wanted it.  But he readily volunteered. There is something about taking on a job that must be done that is the custom of American heroes. Dressed as a Dutch schoolmaster, he ventured through enemy lines. He found out what he went after and was on his way back when the British discovered the information on him. He admitted that he was a spy, and they hanged him the next morning. Before he died, he wrote a few letters home, but the British destroyed them so that “the rebels should not know they have a man who can die so firmly.” In his last moment, though, they let him speak freely.  He was just a young American who had no time to do anything memorable but die. So he stood there with the noose around his neck and told them his rank, Captain, and his name, Nathan Hale. Then he added, “I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” He gave his life.  On this Memorial Day weekend, it is fitting that we proudly fly our flag and honor all those who have paid the ultimate price for the freedom we enjoy and often, sad to say, take for granted.  As we remember them, let us not forget another One who came voluntarily and crossed the enemy lines with the express purpose of giving His life for an ungodly race of sinners.  The cleansing stream of our Savior’s blood has and always will set men free from the enslaving chains of their sin.  May we today and always lift high the banner of His gospel before a needy world!  Take a moment this weekend to thank our Lord, the true source of all our freedoms, for His blessing on our nation and for His promise of the heavenly country that awaits us.