Memorial Day

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the solider, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the organizer, who gave us the freedom to demonstrate. 

It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag. 

And whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag."

-Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

1,319,475

That number is a rough estimate of the number of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in service to America over her 235 years of existence.

Nearly one-point-four million lives.

"Uncommon valor was a common virtue." -Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz about the Marines who fought on Iwo Jima

And that number is only reported combat deaths; it doesn't include those who were wounded or the too many who are missing in action and never returned home. Just think of World War II and the vast Pacific campaign. How many sailors were lost when their ships were sunk? How many Marines and soldiers were swept away by the tides when storming the beaches at any number of Japanese island fortresses? How many airmen did the unforgiving sea consume after their planes were shot down or succumbed to mechanical failures, never to be seen again?

1.4 million.

Today is Memorial Day, the generally-accepted start of the summer. The weather is getting nicer by the day, and school's almost out. It's a time to head up to the mountains and/or fire up the barbecue.

Navy SEALs, and one Special Forces operator, honor their fallen comrade,  Special Warfare Operator 3rd Class Denis Miranda, by pounding their uniform Tridents into his casket on September 30, 2010 (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Scorza)

It's also the time to remember and honor our fallen brothers and sisters.

If it weren't for the 25,000 brave patriots who fell to British muskets, who knows what would have happened? We certainly wouldn't be the country we are today. We might still be part of the British Empire.

Nearly 625,000 perished in the Civil War, America's bloodiest conflict. Without their efforts, we might be a fractured nation where one half still legalized slavery. We certainly wouldn't be the mighty nation we are today.

A photo taken after the Battle of Gettysburg

Say what you will about how our government treated Native Americans, but without the hundreds of cavalry troopers and infantrymen that died pacifying the wild western frontier, our nation would be markedly different. My own home state of Colorado might not have become a state, and California, the most populous state in the union and an important economic and cultural leader in our country, would not have developed the way it has (some of you may feel that would have been a good thing). Without the Transcontinental Railroad, would people have flocked to California the way they did?

Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry Regiment on patrol

Fresh American soldiers provided the final push to end World War I that war-weary and ravaged France and Britain could not, and 405,399 brave Americans gave their life in World War II to defeat the greatest evil the world has ever seen.

In Korea, 36,516 Americans were killed in a war nobody remembers. Over 58,000 US servicemen gave their lives in an unpopular war. Two hundred sixty-six men, mostly Marines, were killed in a bombing in Beirut in 1983 during the Lebanese Civil War. Two hundred fifty-eight military personnel died during the Gulf War, and dozens more died in the line of duty in numerous smaller actions like Panama, Grenada, and Somalia.

After 9/11, America's warriors went to war yet again, to avenge their countrymen and rain retribution down on those responsible. To date, about 6,400 American military personnel have fallen in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"It is God's job to forgive Osama Bin Laden. It is our job to arrange a face-to-face meeting." -General Arnold Schwarzkopf

These brave men and women deserve to be remembered and honored. Our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines sacrifice much so that we can enjoy the freedoms and comforts we have today. They are away from their families for months, sometimes years, at a time. They miss important events that we take for granted like graduations, weddings, and the births of their children. Some never get to know their children as they are killed in action before they can return home.

My biggest fear upon waking up this morning was having an upset stomach from something I ate last night. Our military men and women wake up knowing they might not make it through the day. They give up their own personal freedom so that the rest of us can enjoy ours.

These men and women represent the best of America, who we are and what we aspire to be. This country was built on their sacrifices. Without them, we would not be who we are today.

So today, take a moment to reflect upon their sacrifice. Look to them as an example and strive to take advantage of the opportunities they have given you. America is great because of them. It will continue to be great because of us.