For our fallen heroes
The sacrifices made for our freedoms
It’s Memorial Day, the day we see heartfelt tributes to our troops and veterans. They’re worthy of year-round thanks, of course, especially with so many service members coming home from multiple combat tours.
But today isn’t Armed Forces Day, which took place May 17, or Veterans Day, which is Nov. 11. Those days honor the living. Memorial Day recognizes those who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Yes, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of the summer vacation season. But we cannot let fade into the past the reality that previous generations made sacrifices which seem unimaginable today and that such selflessness continues to this day.
To their credit, Americans have never forgotten the men and women who gave the final measure to protect the freedoms we now hold so casually. But their sacrifices were safely pigeonholed in a brief ceremony at the cemetery, a few moments of young kids scrambling to pass out flags in the sun — Memorial Day. Not so distressing, that way.
So, if only for a moment, right now, take the time to read the following list. Reflect upon how many Americans have died to ensure the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today. Whether you agreed with the decision to put our men and women in harm’s way or not, honor them with a prayer or a toast. This day is for them.
These are some of the conflicts that have claimed the lives of more than 1 million Americans. (Figures are approximate and include noncombat deaths.)
• Revolutionary War (1775-1783): 25,000
• Northwest Indian War (1785-1795): 1,000
• War of 1812 (1812-1815): 20,000
• Mexican-american War (1846-1848): 13,000
• Civil War (1861-1865): 625,000
• Great Sioux War (1876-1877): 300
• Spanish-american War (1898): 2,400 • Philippine-american War (1898-1902): 4,200
• World War I (1917-1918): 117,000
• World War II (1941-1945): 407,000
• Cold War (1947-1991): 32
• Korean War (1950-1953): 37,000
• Vietnam War (1964-1973): 58,000
• Beirut (1982-1984): 266
• Grenada (1983): 19
• Panama (1989): 23
• Persian Gulf War (1991): 269
• Somalia intervention (1992-1995): 43
• Iraq (2003-2011) 4,474
• Afghanistan (2002-present) 1,695
God bless America. Happy Memorial Day.
A version of this editorial originally appeared on this page in2013.
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Fax 702-383-4676 picked him? The board.
In the past five years, the outgoing superintendent and the board have barely moved the needle on overall educational improvement while driving us $50 million in debt. Going forward, the new superintendent and the board not only have to get a grip on our education problems, they also have to work out of that debt.
Anyone who takes a salary here has a mandate to be fiscally responsible — that is, revenue minus expenses minus cash reserve contribution minus deficit payment plan equals zero. Are we supposed to conclude that the new superintendent has the cunning and skills to accomplish this? There is only one person who is suitable for running the district: The governor, on behalf of us all as creditors in possession. Yes, he needs to be the trustee for this bankruptcy. Meanwhile our gin-soaked ex-mayor is taxied all over town by people whose job this definitely ain’t. Rossi Ralenkotter can’t keep his grabby hands off “free” stuff at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Cops and firefighters pervert the system to boost pensions and overtime pay. Ditto for scads of public employees. Las Vegas City Councilman Stavros Anthony is a double-dipping poster boy. And County Commissioner Steve Sisolak dons a chameleon suit and slithers hard left in an effort to keep his ego inflated.
It’s Vegas, baby! Now shut up and build me a stadium.