Remembering Heroes

by Barbara Latta

Arlington National Cemetary

Memorial Day was set aside as a time to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to birth our country and defend its freedom. While the holiday has become a time for sales and barbecues for some, it's important to honor the reason for the day. 

The following is a list of the wars fought since the beginning of our nation and the number of casualties each war cost. It's easy to forget how many have paid this price until the numbers are in front of us.

American Revolutionary War, 1775-1783; 25,000
War of 1812, 1812-1815; 20,000
Mexican-American War, 1846-1848; 13,283
Civil War, 1861-1865; 625,000
Spanish-American War, 1898; 2,446
Philippine-American War, 1898-1913; 4,196
Boxer Rebellion, 1900-1901; 131
Mexican Revolution, 1914-1919; 35
Haiti Occupation, 1915-1934; 148
World War I, 1917-1918; 116,516
North Russia Campaign, 1918-1920; 424
American Expeditionary Force Siberia, 1918-1920; 328
Nicaragua Occupation, 1927-1933; 48
World War II, 1941-1945; 405,399
Korean War, 1950-1953; 36,516
Vietnam War, 1955-1975; 58,209
El Salvador Civil War, 1980-1992; 37
Beirut, 1982-1984; 266
Grenada, 1983; 19
Panama, 1989; 40
Persian Gulf War, 1990-1991; 258
Operation Provide Comfort, 1991-1996; 19
Somalia Intervention, 1992-1995; 43
Bosnia, 1995-2004; 12
NATO Air Campaign Yugoslavia, 1999; 20
Afghanistan, 2001-2014; 2,356
Iraq, 2003-2012, 4,489

Thousands are buried at Arlington National Cemetary, many more on battlefields all over the world; some in unmarked graves that were never found. May we never forget the blessing of freedom and the cost so many paid to bring it to our shores.

Purple Heart for heroes

God bless America!

Please use the comments section to remember a hero of yours, or share your thoughts about America and Memorial Day.

Thanks to our Heroes

In honor of our fallen heroes, I would like to share this poem.

A Hero’s Tribute

by Barbara Latta

The plane’s engines hum as it rolls to a stop

The rear hatch opens and the door slowly drops.

Uniforms march two by two, side by side,

Gloved hands raise to salute those who died.

Flags drape the coffins as they are carried away

Comrades in arms they will be to this day.

Heroes of war who have paid the price

Coming back home to their loved ones cries.

They are moved to the grave as the bugler plays taps

Young children watch from their mother’s laps.

The rifles’ repeat echoes off the banks

Our heroes are resting as the nation says “thanks”.

Share your thoughts about Memorial Day or pay tribute to a hero in your life.

Remember

Andersonville National Cemetary

Memorial Day. A time to pay homage to those who have paid with their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. It takes only a visit to a national cemetary to see the evidence of the cost. As we enjoy the benefits of their sacrifice, let us never forget to appreciate what we have.

In honor of those who have lost their lives fighting for the founding of this nation and the continued defense of its freedoms (military, police, and fire departments), I dedicate this poem.

A Hero's Tribute

Andersonville National Cemetary

The plane's engines hum as it rolls to a stop

The rear hatch opens and the door slowly drops.

Uniforms march two by two, side by side,

Gloved hands raise to salute those who died.

Flages drape the coffins as they are carried away

Comrades in arms they will be to this day.

Heroes of war who have paid the price

Coming back home to their loved ones cries.

They are moved to the grave as the bugler plays taps

Young children watch from their mother's laps.

The rifles' repeat echoes off the banks

Our heroes are resting as the nation says "thanks."

 

Do you have a Memorial Day story to share? Remember your hero here.