“The Soldier, above all other people, prays for peace – for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
Many Americans mark Memorial Day as the first “get away” day of summer – even if it only means spending time in our backyards with a cold beer, some BBQ, family and friends.
But this year, I hope we do more than simply grab our flip-flops and fire up the grill.
5000+ REASONS TO REMEMBER
This year, as summer begins, the War on Terror has reached some sobering milestones. By late last week, American troops killed in action in Iraq had risen to more than 4000. And in Afghanistan, the death toll had climbed beyond 1000.
In the months ahead, those numbers are expected to swell, as US troops in Afghanistan surge to more than 98,000 during an all-out effort to secure Taliban strongholds. (For details about shifting troop levels in the War on Terror, read the New York Times story, “Troops in Afghanistan Now Outnumber Those in Iraq” by Elisabeth Bumiller. Or read USA Today’s article, “US Military Death Toll in Afghanistan Reaches 1000.” )
So on this particular Memorial Day, it’s important to remember what this national holiday is really about. Please consider the sacrifices of those – past, present and future – who pay the ultimate price for our freedoms.
As one young recently-widowed Marine bride observes in her poignant blog (A Little Pink in a World of Camo):
“Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful for what we have. Memorial day is a day to be thankful for those who died for what we have.”
Be sure to continue reading 5000 Reasons to Remember Memorial Day and while you are there, check out Jeff's other postings and his book Afghan Journal!!
Jeff Courter is active duty with the U.S. Army.
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