I sit here thinking about words of encouragement and pearls of wisdom for the working woman on this Sunday before Memorial Day and I am at a loss.  My words seem so insignificant, but I’m writing anyway.  This Monday morning deserves more than best practices and philosophies.  No level of business prowess can trump the efforts and sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces through the decades.  This Monday I get the day off to pay homage to those warriors of days past, but will I actually do that?

Will I reflect on the stories of heroism for those who survived and those who died in honor of their country–my country?  War has never been something I have understood, but it is something that always has been…like air and water…it just is.

I am humbled and I am broken as I watch the PBS Memorial Day concert.  I am guilt-ridden when I think for one moment that I’ve had a remotely difficult day lately…or ever in comparison.  I’ve never been to a National Cemetery on Memorial Day and I’m ashamed…tomorrow I begin the tradition.  I cannot enjoy a day with friends without first making the somber trip to pay my respects.  I can only apologize.  I have become one of those people who takes for granted my fortunate life and my blessed existence.

But who do I thank?  How many people do I owe a debt of gratitude? When and where did they fight? Can I make up for lost time and begin a tradition of memorializing our fallen heroes?  I’m going to try.

According to HomeOfHeroes.com, since the birth of the United States of America on July 4, 1776, no single generation of Americans has been spared the responsibility of defending freedom by force of arms.  More than 42 Million American men and women have served in time of war…more than a MILLION have purchased freedom with their lives.  Below are statistics from the US Department of Veterans Affairs detailing the war service and sacrifice of America’s sons and daughters.  I’ve got some making up to do.

My final thoughts are to say to all who served, “thank you, I’m sorry, please forgive me and I love you for what you’ve done for me.”

War	Dates	Served	Battle Deaths	Other Deaths	Wounded
American Revolution	1775 – 1783	217,000	4,435	Unknown	6,188
War of 1812	1812 – 1815	286,730	2,260	Unknown	4,505
Indian Wars	1817 – 1898	106,000	1,000	Unknown	Unknown
Mexican War	1846 – 1848	78,718	1,733	11,550	4,152
Civil War (North)	1861 – 1865	2,213,363	140,414	224,097	281,881
Civil War (South)		1,050,000	74,524	59,297	Unknown
Spanish-American War	1898 – 1902	306,760	385	2,061	1,662
World War I	1917 – 1918	4,734,991	53,402	63,114	204,002
World War II	1940 – 1945	16,112,566	291,557	113,842	671,846
Korean War	1950 – 1953	5,720,000	33,686	20,560	103,284
Vietnam War	1964 – 1975	9,200,000	47,410	42,788	153,303
Gulf War	1990 – 1991	2,322,332	148	1,194	467
Totals		42,348,460	650,954	538,503	1,431,290