Whatever your politics may be. Whatever your views on the current conflict, or wars in general, keep in mind that freedom isn't free. Many have died to secure that freedom and Memorial Day is a day to remember those men and women. The following is from the Marine Corps Times, May 26, 2008, edition:
"The United States is almost 232 years old, the world's greatest and oldest experiment in freedom and democracy.
"In that short history, Americans have paid for that freedom - and increasingly over the past centruy, for the freedom of untold others - in the blood and noble sacrifice of those who heard the call to service and gave their lives to the cause.
"Some 4,435 died for their new country in the American Revolution. 2,260 in the War of 1812. 13,283 in the Mexican War. 529,511 - probably more, but records are incomplete - in the American Civil War. 2,446 in the Spanish-American War. 116,516 in World War I. 405,399 in World War II. 36,574 in the Korean War. 58,209 in the Vietnam War. 19 in Grenada for Operation Urgent Fury. 383 in the Persian Gulf War. 23 in Panama for Operation Just Cause. 43 in Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. 496 in Operation Enduring Freedom and 4,069 in Operation Iraqi Freedom - and counting.
"That's 1,173,666 in all.
"Hundreds, perhaps thousands, more have died in service to our country on virtually every continent on the globe in conflicts we either don't recall or won't acknowledge.
"This Memorial Day, take a moment to remember them."
