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05 Memorial Day

We often tend to forget what

Memorial Day

is all about.
 
 
 
Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May
Originally called Declaration Day, Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.
 It is a day of remembrance for those who have died serving the United States of America.*

Revolutionary War 1775-1783

Estimated U.S.A. Deaths:  4435
 
 
Mexican American Was 1846-1848
Estimated U.S.A. Deaths:  13,283
 
 
U. S. Civil War
Estimated Deaths:  618,000-700,000
 
 
Spanish American War 1898
Estimated U.S.A. Deaths:  625,000
 
 
 
World War I 1914-1918
Estimated U.S.A. Deaths:  116,708 
 
 
 
World War II 1939-1945
Estimated U.S.A. Deaths:  405,399
 
 
 
Korean War 1950-1953
Estimated U.S.A. Deaths:  53,686
 
 
 
Vietnam War 1960-1975
Estimated U.S.A. Deaths:  58,209
 
 
 
Bay of Pigs Invasion 1961
U.S.A. Deaths:  4
 
 
 
Grenada 1983
U.S.A. Deaths:  19
 
 
 
 
U.S. Invasion of Panama 1989
U.S.A. Deaths:  40 
 
 
 
Persian Gulf War 1990-1991
U.S.A. Deaths:  258
 
 
 
Intervention in Bosnia & Herzegovina 1995-1996
U.S.A. Deaths:  12
 
 
 
Invasion of Afghanistan 2001
Estimated U.S.A. Deaths To Date: 1,427
 
 
 
 
Invasion of Iraq 2003
Estimated U.S.A. Deaths To Date: 1,572
 
 

 

God Bless The United States of America,
and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice!
 

 

A POEM WORTH READING
(Author Unknown)

He was getting
old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Someone who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Pass On the Patriotism! YOU can make a difference!!!

 

Prayer for Those Who Have Fallen in Battle

All Powerful God,
We honor those men and women—
Our sons and daughters,
Husbands and wives,
Fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers—
Who have laid down their life for their country.

Whether weary or emboldened, quiet or defiant,
Vulnerable or ready when You called them home,
Their sacrifice is too humbling for words
except these uttered in prayer.

Loving Lord, bless them forever in Your eternal peace.
Let the sounds of strife, the cries of battle, the wounds of war
be calmed for all eternity in Your loving and endless grace.
Let these great warriors find rest at last,
Ever reminded that we who are left behind
Cherish their spirit, honor their commitment,
send them our love,
and will never forget the service that they gave.