Always Remember

Mommy is going to take this over for a post, not to be sad, but to remind everyone about the history of today:

...for the millions that have served, fought, and died for their brothers in arms, their ideals, our freedoms, and our way of life.

We celebrate Memorial Day so that we never forget their sacrifice, why we are here, and how much so many gave so that we could be free.

Freedom has never been free.

*The numbers in parentheses are approximate military lives sacrificed and do not include casualties or MIAs, in most cases.

Unknown Soldier Memorial, Revolutionary War (25, 435 - no singular National war memorial)
"FREEDOM IS A LIGHT FOR WHICH MANY MEN HAVE DIED IN DARKNESS... THE INDEPENDENCE AND LIBERTY YOU POSES ARE THE WORK OF JOINT COUNCILS AND JOINT EFFORTS - OF COMMON DANGERS, SUFFERINGS AND SUCCESS."


Unknown Soldier Memorial, Civil War (618,022 - no singular National war memorial)
"BENEATH THIS STONE REPOSE THE BONES OF
TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN UNKNOWN
SOLDIERS GATHERED AFTER THE WAR. FROM THE FIELDS OF BULL RUN,
AND THE ROUTE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK, THEIR REMAINS COULD NOT BE
IDENTIFIED. BUT THEIR NAMES AND DEATHS ARE RECORDED IN THE ARCHIVES OF
THEIR COUNTY, AND ITS GRATEFUL CITIZENS HONOR THEM AS OF THEIR
NOBEL ARMY OF MARTYRS. MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.
SEPTEMBER. A. C. 1866. "


World War I (123,839 - no singular National war memorial)


World War II, The Wall of Stars (404,997)


Korean War (54,246)


Vietnam War (58,261)


Current Iraq War (OIF - 4,442; OEF -1,571 - no singular National war memorial)


3rd Battalion 1st Marines, Fallujah