Memorial Day is about the fallen, those who didn’t make it home from war. Our family does not have any graves locally to visit. But our hearts are full for the families who do, whether the grave is still bare or covered with grass and wildflowers.
Since the United States was founded, there have been over 1 million deaths of servicemen and servicewomen against military forces. These numbers do not include civilians on either side who were caught in between, or non-military actions that caused military deaths.
Data from http://www.usmemorialday.org/memorialsfull.htm and http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004615.html
Revolutionary War: approximately 4000
War of 1812: 2000
Mexican War: 12,000
Civil War, Union: 364,000
Civil War, Confederate: 133,821
Spanish-American War: 11,000
First World War: 116,000
Second World War: 406,000
Korean Conflict: 55,000
Vietnam: 109,000
Gulf War #1: 760
Afghanistan and Current Gulf War: over 3000
However you spend this day, remember the sacrifices that led to our prosperity.