More Than Just Numbers

646,392

320,518

1,076,245

103,284

211,454

2,442

44,308

What are these numbers? They represent the number of U. S. soldiers wounded or killed in

War Between The States (Civil War)

World War 1

World War 2

Korean War

Vietnam

Afghanistan (as of 31-Dec-2007)

Iraq (as of 31-Dec-2007)

How strange and how disheartening to me that the majority of people in this country will honor these men and women (and many others) by getting drunk and watching television. At 3:00pm I would hope that there is at least a slight pause in your activities to remember those who gave their all so that you have retained your right to do whatever it is you are doing today. These and many others took the following oath and lived those responsibilities:

"I, _____, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Those of us who remain should remember what it means to affirm, to commit, to "swear" an oath. In today's world it is far too easy to be morally "squishy", to be non-commital, to not choose a side, to wait and see if something better comes along, to save our own hides at the expense of others. These men and women didn't, and we are a better country for it. I am reminded of what President Reagan said at the 40th anniversary of D-Day:

" Today the living here assembled -- officials, veterans, citizens -- are a tribute to what was achieved here 40 years ago. This land is secure. We are free. These things are worth fighting and dying for."