Just over one and a third million Americans -- military personnel -- have died in all this country's wars from the American Revolution onward. When the call came, they stepped up and served, and did not come back. Even now, more died outside of combat, falling to bad food, insufficient medical treatment and communicable illness. Quite apart from the danger of the opponent wanting to do them harm, military service is inherently dangerous.
And yet they served anyway, and died of it. Do not forget them. Do not forget what they lost.
Thanks Roberta.
ReplyDeleteI lost several friends while on active duty back in the 80s, none of them combat deaths. Vehicle and other accidents while on duty, and in one case an F-111 during a night low level training mission impacting a mountain at high subsonic.
To absent companions...
Amen.
ReplyDeleteAnd please thank your roomie for that bayonet-in-the-ground Garand pic.
Every year since the 2007 original, I've sent a copy to a friend in Buffalo, who re-posts it on her Facebook page.
Best symbol of sacrifice I've ever seen.