Monday, May 28, 2012

Remembering Their Sacrifice!



On other National holidays the nation takes to the streets in joyous celebration.  On Memorial Day we are to take time to remember and mourn those men and women who gave their lives for this country.  So many did over the years.


War Dead Wounded
Revolutionary 25,000 25,000
1812 20,000 4,505
Mexican-American 13,283 4,152
Civil 624,511 281,881
Spanish-American 2,446 1,622
Philippine-American 4,196 2,930
World War 1 116,516 204,002
World War 2 405,399 670,846
Korea 36,516 92,134
Vietnam 58,209 153,303
Gulf 258 849
Afghanistan 1,803 31,965
Iraq 4,477 41,936
Totals 1,312,614 1,515,125


We should pause and remember them.  But instead most Americans will go to sales in malls, go to the beach and have cook outs.

The sacrifice these men gave entitles these Americans to do that.  It is our Freedoms and the Freedom of the world that they sacrificed their lives.  The liberation of Europe, not once but twice.  The liberation of Iraq from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein and Afghanistan from the Taliban.  The Freedom of Cuba from Spain, the Philippines, the Battle of New Orleans and Brooklyn Heights.  They sacrificed at Shiloh, and Gettysburg.  The Wilderness and Fredricksberg.  And the nation they fought for survived and thrived.

To the families of those who have died:  Thank You.  There is no monetary settlement, no honors we can give you to heal the pain.






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