Since 1868 Memorial Day has been observed in some form. It originally began as a remembrance of the soldiers who died in the Civil War, but eventually evolved to include all wars.
It is now observed the last Monday in May after Congress passed the National Holiday Act of 1971.
Those of us who didn't live through World War I & II have a limited perspective. I checked out the military death statistics for each major war up to the present, including the Iraq war...
World War I... 116, 708
World War II... 416, 800
Korean War... 36, 576
Vietnam War... 58, 217
Iraq War... 4, 080
Well over a half a million soldiers died in the two World Wars! Since then, more than 98, 873 have died in subsequent conflicts. Those numbers don't include all the MIA's and wounded. Some were wounded so drastically that it changed their lives for the rest of their time on this planet! No statistic can adequately measure the emotional damage suffered by soldiers and their families.
Someone has wisely said that freedom isn't free! All the way back to the Revolutionary War, hundreds of thousands have died to give and preserve what we enjoy today!
I fear that too many take this freedom for granted in our current culture. I want to encourage you to take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to stop and thank God for the great freedom you enjoy and for those whose sacrifice made it possible! When you get a chance, find a veteran and thank them also.
I am a grateful, unashamedly patriotic, citizen of these great United States of America!It is here that I have the freedom to worship and proclaim the Gospel openly!
If you have a relative or friend who has given their life for our country, feel free to honor them here!!! Hit the comment button below this post...
Thanks Mike for the honor you show all who served.
My good friend was shot and killed in the Philippines during peacetime, he was targeted, along with 6 others (5 died also) because they were American soldiers. My youngest son, Michael Stevens' name came about because of my friend who gave his life for Our Countrys' Freedom, I think of him every Memorial Day, as well as his wife and at the time of his death his unborn son. So I honor his name and that God blessed my life by having him be a part of it. Thanks for your service Steven Michael Faust. Thanks to all who have served or are currently serving, giving up/have given up some of your own freedom(s) to protect all of our freedom(s).
By Dave Wagner - 5/22/2008 2:23 AM
My osn gives every day og his life in the military from the year he graduated to today. He has been in Iraq at least two times and various hot spots.
I can attest to the emotional, psychological, familial, and damage that occurs on a daily basis for he, his wife and children. There is so much turmoil that people never totally realize for those that passed and those that go on with hurts so much more than just the lost lives, the psychical pain that people don't always think about in the sacrifices.
It breaks my heart for all of these folks, there families, their kids, their parents and more. Most especially when often people don't even think about these folks who have and still are making these sacrifices and will for over a third of their lives and some forever.
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May, 2008
Comments (2) for "Memorial Day"