In 1971, Congress identified the last Monday in May as a national Memorial Day. It now stands as the time to honor those Americans who have died in all of the nation’s wars.
All told, it’s a sobering list:
The 4,400 in the American Revolution. The 2,200 in the War of 1812. The 13,200 in the Mexican War of 1846-48.
The 640,000 Union forces and 133,000 Confederate soldiers in the Civil War.
The 2,400 in the Spanish-American War (1898).
The 116,000 in World War I.
More than 400,000 in World War II.
The 36,000 in the Korean War.
The 58,000 in Vietnam.
Nearly 150 in the Persian Gulf War.
And now, nearly 400 in Afghanistan and nearly 3,500 in Iraq.
These young Americans once again are “risking their lives in liberty’s defense,” observed former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole in dedicating the National World War II Memorial three Mays ago. In doing so, “they are the latest link in a chain of sacrifice older than America itself.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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47 Comments
What must not be overlooked in the numbers Rhonda Holman quotes are the millions of Americans who survived the immediacy of war itself, but whose lives, and lives of their families, have been forever changed by the horror of their combat experiences. The survivors should be honored as well as the dead.
We’ll be out of Iraq as soon as we are able to get Saddam to follow those UN guidelines and conduct a search for those WMD. Those are the reasons we invaded Iraq and we’ll be out as soon as Bush declared “mission accomplished” in some outlandish, unnecessary photo op.
Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so, whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose — and you allow him to make war at pleasure. If today, he should choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada, to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may say to him, ‘I see no probability of the British invading us’ but he will say to you, ‘Be silent; I see it, if you don’t.’” – Abraham Lincoln
As of 5/28/07 12:16 EDT — American Military Casualties in Iraq, 3455 –Total Wounded, 25,378
Between 8 and 10 percent of nearly 12,000 soldiers from the war on terror, mostly from Iraq, treated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany had “psychiatric or behavioral health issues,” according to the commander of the hospital, Col. Rhonda Cornum.
Sgt Matt Maupin POW/MIA since April 9, 2004
We still have two missing soldiers
This Memorial Day remember are fallen soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
From the American Legion Website:
Take for instance the final letter sent to Command Sergeant Major James Blankenbecler, (BLANK IN BECK LER) from his 14-year-old daughter, Jessica … two days after he was killed in a convoy in Samara, Iraq.
“Hi Daddy, sorry I haven’t written to you in a while. I miss you so much. How have you been? Is heaven everything it says it is? I know it’s probably that and more. I can’t wait ’till I can come join you again.
“I have your military ring on now. It’s kind of big for my little finger, but it makes me feel you’re holding my hand when I have it on…It’s been on since we found out the news.
“And when we drive by the billboards that say, ‘An Army of One’, it makes me remember you in your military uniform. How you always made a crunching sound when you walked, and how you shined your big boots every night before you went to bed. I miss seeing that all the time.
“I know you are gone now, but it only means that I have another angel watching over me for the rest of my life. That’s the only way I can think of this being good. There is no other way I can think of it.
“Little things that I took for granted when you were here seem priceless now. I will miss you, daddy, with all my heart. I will always be your little girl and I will never forget that … I love you daddy, I will miss you!!”
P.S. I have never been so proud of my last name.”
Remember.
A Day to Remember
I recently watched “Flags of Our Fathers” – we rented the DVD to see it. I don’t care for war stories but since my dad had been in WWII I thought I might understand him a little better by viewing the show.
Dad had not gone to a show since we went to the drive-in when I was a child. Yet, when he heard about “Flags of Our Fathers” he went to the show to see it. It has been 40++ years since he had gone inside a movie theater. If something was so important to him then I had to see what it was.
Our dad’s and grandfathers paid a HUGH price for the freedoms that we Americans take for granted. The freedoms the illegal immigrants’ are trying to obtain. During WWI, WWII, Korean War and all the others they were not grown men they were BOYS – over there defending US – the future generations that would be born into this American that they helped create with their lives and the lives of their friends.
If you have not seen “Flags of Our Fathers” it is done very tastefully, yes, there are a few times you may want to close your eyes for a moment – but even then remember this is a show and the real story was even worse.
I understand now why my father still talks about his fellow soldiers’ as brothers and remembers all the things that happened while he was in the Navy. How he didn’t talk about it for years and years. It was just too terrible and painful to think about. Yet, many things (a thunderstorm, a loud boom etc) might take him back to that place and that time when he was just trying to stay alive.
Today and everyday, lets remember those that have gone on, those that are still alive and those that are right now fighting for you and I – so that we can enjoy our life as we know it.
Our wonderful veterans and soldiers’. Thank you.
There is a time and a topic in which to debate the politics of the Iraq war- and Gawd knows I love to debate it. But this is NOT the time or the place. At this time we should all pause and think about those who have died. Not only those in our own family but those whom are loved by others. The crying widow, the hurt daughter that was on TV last night with the video of her father giving her away at her wedding before leaving for Iraq- it was the last time she ever saw him. Thinks of those left behind and the sacrifice we have asked of them while making little or no sacrifice ourselves. Everytime a military man falls, he leaves behind those who loved him. And if you have a minute today, stop and offer a prayer for them.
I thank all of our soldiers, past and present, for sacrificing so much.
To “political_mom” and all the others out there who support us, your welcome!
“These young Americans once again are “risking their lives in liberty’s defense,” observed former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole ”
We’re not defending liberty, neither ours nor those we are attacking, and it is disgraceful to allow our military to die to give Israel a free-hand to kill.
Our support and financing of Israeli greed is abhorrent and should stop immediately.
The best way to honor our military is to respect and honor their lives by not asking them to do the unconscionable.
Their lives are worth far more than the twisted political expediency, which we are asking from these honorable soldiers and their families.
The vast majority of Americans agree.
How can we ask others to respect liberty when America’s leadership does not.
Last night I had the strangest dreamI ever dreamed beforeI dreamed the world had all agreedTo put an end to war.
I dreamed I saw a mighty roomAnd the room was filled with men.And the papers they were signing saidThey’d never fight again.
And when the papers were all signed,And a million copies made.We all joined hands and bowed our headsA prayer of thanks we prayed.
And the people in the streets belowWere dancing round and round.And swords and guns and uniformsLay scattered on the ground.
Last night I had the strangest dreamI ever dreamed before.I dreamed the world had all agreedTo put an end to war.
I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.
Politicians make no difference.
We have bought into the Military Industrial Complex (MIC). If you would like to read how this happens please see:
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/03/spyagency200703
Through a combination of public apathy and threats by the MIC we have let the SYSTEM get too large. It is now a SYSTEMIC problem and the SYSTEM is out of control. Government and industry are merging and that is very dangerous.
There is no conspiracy. The SYSTEM has gotten so big that those who make it up and run it day to day in industry and government simply are perpetuating their existance.
The politicians rely on them for details and recommendations because they cannot possibly grasp the nuances of the environment and the BIG SYSTEM.
So, the system has to go bust and then be re-scaled, fixed and re-designed to run efficiently and prudently, just like any other big machine that runs poorly or becomes obsolete or dangerous.
This situation will right itself through trauma. I see a government ENRON on the horizon, with an associated house cleaning.
The next president will come and go along with his appointees and politicos. The event to watch is the collapse of the MIC.
For more details see:
http://rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com/2006/11/inside-pentagon-procurement-from.html
There are soldiers that can read these blogs. Remember that those we are writing about may lurk here. They may have lost friends in Iraq or Afganistan. Show them some love on this day- and everyday.
Thanks, Ken.
Absolutely right.
I think we honor the deaths of American soldiers most when we create a better country and a better world.
That’s what their sacrifice is supposed to be all about.
So, let’s do it.
You say “There is no conspiracy.” then busily spout one out.
It’s simple: The Idiot in the White House has his own agenda and it has nothing to do with: “I think we honor the deaths of American soldiers most when we create a better country and a better world.”
Is stripping the US Constitution its Bill Of Rights, and conducting genocide on the Arab World, while driven by the greed of outsiders is somehow suppose to make this world a better place?
That is tantamount to a reversal of everything the United States stands for, which the world and the American People seem to see clearly, though our elected officials do not.
Alright Ed,
Genocide?
What proof do you have that Bush is supporting the systematic destruction of an entire race of people?
I mean really. Do you even realize how preposterous your claims are?
I thought that Memorial Day was much more than those who have died in our Nation’s wars and conflicts. But actually to Memorialize everybody that has passed away.
Most people take this time to visit their love ones and ancestors graves. Regardless of military service.
Some Holiday Music
The Presidents Own USMC Band
http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/downloads/audio/Washington_Post_cm.mp3
Army Band:
http://www.militarymusic.com/sousa1.ram
82nd Airborne Chorus:http://www.geocities.com/dombiello/sounds/airborne.wav
Another way to honor our military and to see to it they do not have to go in harm’s way is to get the US off the Mideast Oil teat.
I think we should match dollar for dollar the billions already spent in Iraq into alternative energy sources. And if oil is the last one in the profit line, then so be it. Why is the Bush Administration dragging their feet?
First, please take a look at Rhonda’s opening statement.
Well done Rhonda! Take a moment to compare the casualty figures from each war. Very few Vietnam War protesters actually understood how few were lost, in “LBJ’s war” compared to previous wars.
Every death is tragic.
However, human courage and sacrifice and valor are to be highly praised. Such qualities can be found in our fighting men, in every war.
Next, get past the idea that we have EVER had a war with unanimous support. That simply isn’t true. Every war has had vocal opponents, in the beginning. Charles Lindberg and the “America First” crowd, for instance, hated it when FDR began hunting down German U-boats, PRIOR to the attack on Pearl Harbor (by the Japanese.)
I agree, “Flags of Our Fathers” is a great movie. That movie makes clear that the United States was exhausted and broke, at the time of Iwo Jima, and ready to give up. (I think we lost more men, on that one little island, than we have lost in Iraq, so far.)
Finally, if not for those willing to die for their country, we would have no country.
When our enemy believes that they can win wars by encouraging American opposition.
We never lost a major battle in Vietnam, for instance.
Politics is the art of making policy. Our men and women swear an oath to the Constitution, which protects our political system.
That we can debate, here, is a testament to the bravery of our military, throughout our existance.
The American Military, literally, defends this Blog.
Even YOU Ed!
This particular thread was to be non-partisan in keeping with the day, Paul. Leave at that, if you would please. There are other threads for politicizing.
And Ed
Israel has a treaty with the United States.
That treaty is the “law of the land.”
Israel and the United States have a treaty with the United Nations.
Those treaties are the “Law of the Land.”
Modern Israel was created by the United Nations, on land that had NEVER been an autonomous country.
Palestine has NEVER been a state, yet Israel is ready to grant state hood to a peaceful Palestine.
Israel has a right to defend itself.
The most common form of death in Gaza is “honor killing,” or the brutal murder of women for not being subservient enough to men, or for “shaming” the family, or for refusing an arranged marriage.
In every Arab country, “honor killing” accounts for more deaths than the total of Arabs killed by the Israeli Army.
In the Moslem world, far more Shiites have been killed by Suni Moslems than by the Israeli Army.
In the Moslem world, far more Suni’s have been killed by Shiites than by the Israeli Army.
You are a bigot.
You hate Israel.
You would be a far more successful bigot if you did not try to blame all the worlds problems on Jews.
Thank you, to those in uniform, for giving ALL of us the freedom to disagree — on this Blog and everywhere else in America.
Move it to another thread, Paul.
We should all pause and remember the *real* purpose for Memorial Day.
We should all go out an buy a dryer.
A dryer?
Freedom Isn’t FreeI watched the flag pass by one day,It fluttered in the breeze;A young Marine saluted it,And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform,So young, so tall, so proud;With hair cut square and eyes alert,He’d stand out in any crowd.
I thought. how many men like himHad fallen through the years?How many died on foreign soil?How many mothers’ tears?
How many pilots’ planes shot down?How many foxholes were thereThat served as soldiers graves?No . Freedom is not Free.
I heard the sound of Taps one night,When everything was still;I listened to the bugler play,And felt a sudden chill;
I wondered just how many timesThat Taps had meant “Amen”When a flag had draped a coffinOf a brother or a friend;
I thought of all the children,Of the mothers and the wives,Of fathers, sons and husbands.With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyardAt the bottom of the sea,Of unmarked graves in Arlington.No. Freedom is not Free!By Kelly StrongCopyright 1981
“I thought that Memorial Day was much more than those who have died in our Nation’s wars and conflicts. But actually to Memorialize everybody that has passed away.”
You are right in that the day includes all those who have died and will some day include you and me. But the emphasis is on those who died wearing the uniform of this country and serving the people thereof. I would also include cops and firefighters in that as well (we lost a firefighter this morning who died trying to rescue a man from a burning house here). These are all people that we ask alot of including their very lives in defense of ours and they always have been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice when necessary.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.
Memorial Day/Decoration Day was begun (not offically a federal holiday) during the Civil War.
Memorial Day (from Wikipedia)
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (observed this year on 2007-05-28). It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.
(snip)
In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also a time for picnics, family gatherings, and sporting events. Some Americans view Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of summer and Labor Day as the unofficial end of the season. The national Click it or ticket campaign ramps up beginning Memorial Day weekend, noting the beginning of the most dangerous season for auto accidents and other safety related incidents. The USAF “101 Critical days of summer” also begin on this day as well. Some Americans use Memorial Day to also honor any family members who have died, not just servicemen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_day
I went to put my flag out this morning and noticed that no one on my block has a flag out. Seems that after 9/11 every house, car, truck, and motorcycle had them. Guess things are back to normal.
kc – I noticed the same thing this morning. Not many flags.
I always remember my parents – both WW2 vets. Also I visit with the widow of a very close friend and confidant – another WW2 vet.
Many friends who are vets of Nam and Gulf 1 tend to be more into the ‘burgers and beer’ celebration of THEIR holiday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MznL42r9-c&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecrooksandliars%2Ecom%2F
I guess Cindy Sheehan quit
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/28/12530/1525
The root cause of where we are today:
The U.S. Department of Defense, headquartered in the Pentagon, is one of the most massiveorganizations on the planet, with net annual operating costs of $635 billion, assets worth $1.3 trillion, liabilities of $1.9 trillion and more that 2.9 million military and civilian personnel as of fiscal year 2005.
It is difficult to convey the complexity of the way DOD works to someone who has not experienced it. This is a massive machine with so many departments and so much beaurocracy that no president, including Bush totally understands it.
Presidents, Congressmen, Cabinet Members and Appointees project a knowledgeable demeanor but they are spouting what they are told by career people who never go away and who train their replacements carefully. These are military and civil servants with enormous collective power, armed with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Defense Industrial Security Manuals, compartmentalized classification structures and “Rice Bowls” which are never mixed.
Our society has slowly given this power structure its momentum which is constant and extraordinarily tough to bend. The cost to the average American is exhorbitant in terms of real dollars and bad decisions. Every major power structure member in the Pentagon’s many Washington Offices and Field locations in the US and Overseas has a counterpart in Defense Industry Corporate America. That collective body has undergone major consolidation in the last 10 years.
What used to be a broad base of competitive firms is now a few huge monoliths, such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Boeing and SAIC. If you would like to read how they control our government, please see:http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/03/spyagency200703
Government oversight committees are carefully stroked. Sam Nunn and others who were around for years in military and policy oversight roles have been cajoled, given into on occasion but kept in the dark about the real status of things until it is too late to do anything but what the establishment wants. This still continues – with increasing high technology and potential for abuse.
Please examine the following link to testimony given by Franklin C. Spinney before Congress in 2002. It provides very specific information from a whistle blower who is still blowing his whistle (Look him up in your browser and you get lots of feedback) Frank spent the same amount of time as I did in the Military Industrial Complex (MIC) but in government quarters. His job in government was a similar role to mine in defense companies. Frank’s emphasis in this testimony is on the money the machine costs us. It is compelling and it is noteworthy that he was still a staff analyst at the Pentagon when he gave this speech. I still can’t figure out how he got his superior’s permission to say such blunt things. He was extremely highly respected and is now retired.
http://www.d-n-i.net/fcs/spinney_testimony_060402.htm
The brick wall I often refer to is the Pentagon’s own arrogance. It will implode by it’s own volition, go broke, or so drastically let down the American people that it will fall in shambles. Rest assured the day of the implosion is coming. The machine is out of control.
If you are interested in a view of the inside of the Pentagon procurement process from Vietnam to Iraq please check the posting on this blog entitled, “Odyssey of Armaments”
http://rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com/2006/11/odyssey-of-armaments.html
On the same subject, you may also be interested in the following sites from the “Project On Government Oversight”, observing it’s 25th Anniversary and from “Defense In the National Interest”, inspired by Franklin Spinney and contributed to by active/reserve, former, or retired military personnel.
http://pogo.org/
http://www.d-n-i.net/top_level/about_us.htm
My flag is out, and I put my grandparent’s flag out.
She was concerned about putting it out in the rain. Hers is the old cloth one she won’t fly it in the rain, so don’t assume that just because a flag isn’t out that it means something.
I quit putting my flag out after 9/11, I went right out and bought one THAT day. Installed the holder that evening. And then came all the ‘rules’ on flying the darn thing that everyone was all bent out of shape about. SO I stopped. I noticed many others around that time stopped putting theirs out too.
I figured if I needed to take flag flying patriotism 101 in order to show it, I just wouldn’t.
political_mom
It’s a shame that a person’s patriotism in flying the flag stops when they are asked to read and follow a few simple rules. Rules that American servicemen are required to know and obey to the letter.
Maybe political_mom should honor her country by putting out just a little bit of effort on her part…but I suspect that “darn flag” just isn’t worth it to her.
“I have endured a lot of smear and hatred since Casey was killed”
Too bad we can’t trade Joe Williams for Casey Sheehan.
Ah, the blank (which is really not a blank,it’s a period) trying to appear as Cindy Sheehan who amazingly knows Joe Williams?
LMAO
For one Mr. “.”, you don’t even kno how to make a proper nameless post as you ended up using a period.
And the likelihood that Cindy Sheehan would come by the WE Blog just to post some sick remark about substituting Joe for her son’s life is sick.
But I dunno, Joe Williams is a pretty decent guy, he might just have the kind of bravery where he would substitute his own life for a fallen soldier such as Casey Sheehan.
Oh and Mr. “.”, study your methods before posting, you are looking foolish.
You don’t really need to pay attention to flag rules as a civilian as long as you respect the flag. Mine flies from Memorial Day to Thanksgiving Day and it stays out day and night, rain and shine.
Down here in Georgia, it is hard to find a house that is NOT flying a flag today!
It’s a damn flag, not a child for crying out loud.
It shouldn’t break the bank to fly it, and I shouldn’t have to go too far out of my way to have it. So give it a dang rest.
The crucifix has fewer rules for display.
hmmm pube?
Did you just confess to being the person who posts without a name?
That’s not me Pmom.
The one who did it first on this blog was J R. It was picked up later by some Democratic Liberal posters who shall remain nameless, but they all tried it soon after and know the method.
And why are you calling me “pube” mom? What I have I ever done to you?
Are you part of the mob here, or do you have an independent mind like I always thought you had?
I’m incredibly irritated by your bs lately.
I learned the rules of the flag when I was in elementary school. Perhaps the real problem is not the fact that people do or do not fly their flag, but the tragedy is that very few people actually take the time to learn the rules of the flag.
And I still have to question the sanity of someone wearing underwear made to look like the flag. That is where this slippery slope started. But, we are in America where it is encouraged to worship the almighty dollar.
That chain needs to be broken.
It is a symbol. That’s all. It means we love our country. However, it really bothers me that so many act as if it is this symbol should be treated as if it’s holy or something.
If I want to wear it draped over my shoulders like a shawl, so be it.
It shouldn’t BE disrespectful to fly it at night without a light on it. Do you realize how ridiculous it seems? Think about it.
ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html#1
for all the ridiculousness of flying the flag rules.