Memorial Day 2020

Today is Memorial Day in the United States.

It is a day set aside to remember and honor American members of the military who gave their lives in service to our country. Memorial Day was first celebrated on May 30, 1868. The day didn't become a federal holiday until 1971. 

The numbers of military war dead are staggering:

• 53,402 American military personnel died of combat injuries during World War I
•  In World War II, 291,557 Americans died of combat-related injuries
• The Civil War took the lives of an estimated 750,000 military on both sides of the conflict 
• 33,686 American military perished in the Korean War
• More than 58,200 American military died in the war in Vietnam.
• The war in Afghanistan claimed 2,355 American lives.
• 4,418 American military died in the Iraq war.
• Other American military lives were lost in a variety of attacks on ships and installations 

I also like to remember the countless dogs, horses, mules and other animals that were killed during battle. Some 8 million horses, and untold numbers of mules and donkeys, died during World War I. The German army alone killed 2.7 million horses. 

I haven't seen a total number of animals killed in wars, but the numbers must be appalling. I have long believed that there should be a memorial to these forgotten participants, who had no choice in the decision to go to war, in Washington, D.C.

So please, spare a few minutes today in silent thanks to all those who gave their lives in service to our country. The usual parades and ceremonies have been canceled due to the pandemic, but go ahead and fly your flag and remember all those who died while serving America and preserving our freedoms.