“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” – Thucydides
Memorial Day (formerly called Decoration Day) honors U.S. soldiers who died in military service for their country. It was first enacted to honor the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War, and was expanded following World War I to include all fallen soldiers.
Here is a list of American military war deaths from the Civil War forward.
Civil War (1861-1865) – 623,026
Indian Wars (1865-1898) – 919
Spanish-American War (1898) – 2,446
Phillipine War (1898-1902) – 4,196
Boxer Rebellion (1900-1901) – 37
Mexican Revolution (1914-1919) – 35
Haiti Occupation (1915-1934) – 146
World War 1 (1917-1918) – 116,708
World War 2 (1941-1945) – 407,316
Korean War (1950-1953) – 36,914
Vietnam War (1964-1973) – 58,169
El Salvador (1980-1992) – 20
Beirut (1982-1984) – 266
Persian Gulf Support (1987-1988) – 39
Invasion of Grenada (1983) – 19
Invasion of Panama (1989) – 40
Gulf War (1991) – 269
Somalia (1992-1993) – 43
Bosnia 1995 – 12
Afghanistan (2002-2009) – 686+
Iraqi (2003-2009) – 4,299+
General Orders 11, which established the holiday, asked that the graves of our fallen heroes be decorated and kept in pristine condition, so we would not forget the sacrifices our soldiers have made for this nation (there was nothing in there about having cookouts in your backyard). Here is a portion of General Orders 11:
"We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.
If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon the Nation's gratitude—the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan."
As George Washington once famously said, "freedom is not free." To all those who keep us free, who keep us safe, and especially to those who paid the ultimate price for this country, we salute you.
Rest in peace, dad.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I've been thinking of my cousin, Mike, who we lost in Iraq and praying for our family and the families of other soldiers who have fallen today. I know what he was fighting for, that the people of Iraq should be able to have the kind of freedom to choose how they want to live their lives as we do. I miss him, but I know how important his mission was, too.
"Greater love has no one then this, that he lay done his life for his friends" (John15:13)
It begs the question….
Why does John McCain hate Veterans so much??
McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans' Health Care. Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving veterans' health care was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for veterans' health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Greenville News, 12/12/2007; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/04; Senate S.C.R. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/05; S.Amdt. 3007 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/06; H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/07)
McCain Voted At Least 28 Times Against Veterans' Benefits, Including Healthcare. Since arriving in the U.S. Senate in 1987, McCain has voted at least 28 times against ensuring important benefits for America's veterans, including providing adequate healthcare. (2006 Senate Vote # 7, 41, 63, 67, 98, 222; 2005 Senate Votes # 55, 89, 90, 251, 343; 2004 Senate Votes # 40, 48, 145; 2003 Senate Votes # 74, 81, 83; 1999 Senate Vote # 328; 1998 Senate Vote # 175; 1997 Senate Vote # 168; 1996 Senate Votes # 115, 275; 1995 Senate Votes # 76, 226, 466; 1994 Senate Vote # 306; 1992 Senate Vote # 194; 1991 Senate Vote # 259)
McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans. McCain voted against providing automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments for certain veterans' benefits. (S. 869, Vote 259, 11/20/91)
McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted for an appropriations bill that underfunded the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 billion. (H.R. 2099, Vote 470, 9/27/95)
McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs. McCain voted against an amendment to increase spending on veterans programs by $13 billion. (S.C.R. 57, Vote 115, 5/16/96)
McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs. McCain was one of five senators to vote against a bill providing $44.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, plus funding for other federal agencies. (H.R. 2684, Vote 328, 10/15/99)
McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of eight senators to vote against a bill that provided $47 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. (H.R. 4635, Vote 272, 10/12/00)
McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding. McCain was one of five senators to vote against the bill and seven to vote against the conference report that provided $51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as funding for the federal housing, environmental and emergency management agencies and NASA. (H.R. 2620, Vote 334, 11/8/01; Vote 269, 8/2/01)
McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted against an appropriations bill that included $122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. (H.R. 2861, Vote 449, 11/12/03)
McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders. McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. (S. 2020, S.Amdt. 2634, Vote 343, 11/17/05)
McCain opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans' Health Care. McCain opposed providing an assured funding stream for veterans' health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans' population and inflation. (S.Amdt. 3141 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 63, 3/16/06)
McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans' Care. McCain was one of 13 Republicans to vote against providing an additional $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. (S.Amdt. 3642 to H.R. 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06)
McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs. McCain opposed an amendment that would have prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without first giving the workers a chance to compete. (S.Amdt. 2673 to H.R. 2642, Vote 315, 9/6/07)
McCain Opposed the 21st Century GI Bill Because It Was Too Generous.
I guess that cushy Senate Healthcare plan has John McCain covered….
I hope he enjoys a nice retirement….soon.
Read the bills and tell the rest of the story Chris. Why didn't he vote for many of those bills? Because they were bogus. What were his reasons for opposing the last bill? It wasn't because it was to generous…..I will let you explain since you are promoting the lie about John McCain. Let's see if the truth can drip off of the tongue of a Liberal. I have yet to see. Spin yes, truth not a chance.
John McCain doesn't support veterans. His voting record is clear.
I don't care if those bills had some fluff in them or not. He was willing to stop his campaign to run to DC to bail out the banksters no problem…but he couldn't bring himself to vote for vets JUST ONE TIME??
LOL
If you think otherwise feel free to prove it.
Perhaps that's why more military members and veterans voted for Obama.
If you really think they don't pay attention to such things you would be mistaken.
Chris,
You are partially correct, but still somewhat misleading, even if you don't intend to be. McCain has voted to increase veteran's benefits many times.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/afl-cio_falsely_attacks_mccain.html
And the purpose of memorial day is to honor our veterans, not trash them. McCain is a veteran.
McCain is a veteran who has consistently voted against veterans.
McCain removed his honor when he retired his uniform.
You guys don't get it. The GOP ran a Dem Lite….and lost.
McCain was the GOP equivalent of John Kerry….beyond useless.
The SoCons couldn't bear the thought of a Rudy G or Romney….
BABYKILLERS!!
MORMONS!!
and so now they will get to watch O stack the SCOTUS and kill any chance they might have had at overturning R v W.
The GOP….led by incompetent men like Bush/Rumsfeld drove this nation straight into the ditch….and NOW you're all screaming FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY!!
You can all go fk yourselves.
If you want to see the enemy look in the mirror.
So, I take it you didn't read the link.
When I look in the mirror, I see someone who is against all that deficit spending, regardless of whether it's Bush or Obama doing it. I'm also one who supported Romney.
But somehow I get the feeling the facts don't really matter to you.
King, he is like the others, they read the science fiction of the faux news bloggers on the far left and they believe what they read even if it is BS. They aren;t going to take the tiem to read anyhting that may make sense. THey actually prefer to believe the conspiracies no matter how twisted and spun the real truth is.
Nice mouth Chris, I expect that from someone that voted for what looks like will be the worst president in history. A presodent that is an "in the closet gay"(not that there is anything wrong with that, why won't he admit it?) drug dealing ,crack addict. Look at the wreck he is creating. Horrible economic decisions, socialization of the auto industry, destrution of the banking and investment system. Putting America's security and safety 2nd to his and the far lefts political agenda. I heard that when Korea blew off the 2nd A-bomb he was headed for the shelter instead of making a decision on what to do, one of his aids caught him rocking in the a chair sucking his thumb, a common symptom of people whose mother abandoned them as children. He makes Bush/Cheny look like rookies.
averagejoe5,
Thanks for my morning laugh. I especially liked the part where you accuse him of believing anything and then demonstrating the same behavior.
Frank – Disgusting what I wrote isn't it? This is the kind of garbage the left writes and their lemmings believe. Natl Enquirer sh*t ain't it.
averagejoe5,
No, I really did find it hilarious. It was like a SNL sketch, totally over the top.
Please tell me about your muse from the left.
Regardless of joe and frank's little tiff, there, doesn't anyone else think it's hilarious that this Chris dude is acting like McCain is still running for president?
Kinda hilarious, but when you consider that my blogger nemesis the Reverend is still living in the year 2002, Chris is up to date by comparison.