There is a debt, and it is one we can repay, but more on this later. If you don’t want to read this, click the link at the end.
In a sense, this country began in 1607 in a small settlement called Jamestown. In my opinion, the actual start date is July 4, 1776. Some would put it a little over a decade later with the adoption of the Constitution.
Leading up to the Revolutionary War, there were at least seven wars during that period. From the Revolutionary War to the present, this country has fought 12 major wars, including the War on Terror(Overseas Contingency Operation, if you choose to be technically and politically correct, I don’t).
But that’s only part of the history. When we consider invasions, conflicts, 
expeditions, Indian Wars, occupations, and incidents, in addition to wars, the number is over 80—in these, men and women died.
I’ve not been in the military, but I do care. During my life, this country has been involved in 22 engagements, resulting in loss of life. My life started during the Korean War; some call it a conflict, and it continues today as another proxy war following the War on Terror when Americans finally left Afghanistan.
There hasn’t been peace in my lifetime, even though it was promised by Neville Chamberlain one year before the beginning
of WWII with 60,000,000 or more deaths from 1939 to 1945. Keep Chamberlain in mind because I suspect he’ll come up later. You never know; I tend to do this stuff off the top of my head.
That’s a lot of sacrifice by many people. Just how much follows shortly. The sacrifice isn’t a shared one, however. I read a great deal of history. I know, and those older than me know, that the citizenry made sacrifices for the war effort. A good example was during World War II.
But, since 1945, the American people at home have to be called upon to do much. We send soldiers off to fight and die, and how much thought we give it? Unfortunately, we don’t give it much at all, or a kinder way to say it is we don’t give it nearly enough.
Here’s a fact I hope some find startling. Including all deaths, both combat and 
non-combat, and war does result in both, more than 1.3 million people died in combat defending an ideal born in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
Now, the number is like the national debt in two ways. One, the zeroes aren’t there. That number is 1,300,000. Second, it is a debt, not one of money, but one purchased with blood.
It is a debt that can be repaid, though. We can live life and keep our country’s freedom in memory of those who sacrificed so that we could. Think of it this way: You may not be reading this if those who died chose not to risk everything. More on this later.
To put it in perspective, the War Between the States resulted in 650 deaths per day for four years. In World War II, the number is about 300 per day. The War on Terror has a much lower number of deaths per day, less than two. Yet even that number is heavy.
The ultimate sacrifice has been great. If we add those who were wounded, the total is more than 2,700,000, and then we have those who remain missing or unaccounted for. That number equals almost the number that died in the Vietnam War.
Memorial Day was always on May 30 until Congress changed the date to a Monday so there would be a three-day weekend. Decoration Day, as it was known initially, could fall on any day of the week, but that changed more than 40 years ago to give Americans a day off from work.
Since the law changed, it’s fallen on May 30 fewer than ten times. I still observe it on the 30th. A day of remembrance became a day for many to cook out, 
visit friends and family, watch television, or a day to shop looking for sales. For some, that’s fine. For me, it’s not. I mean, it is a day to celebrate in a sense, though what we are celebrating are those who stared at and accepted death so others would not have to do so.
As long as you remember this vital point—that others died so you may live to do these things—I’m okay with it. Well, not the shopping so much, but gathering with friends and family.
One of the more moving pieces of music ever written is Taps. It’s linked here, and I hope you will listen to it. I chose one with something special added. By the way, Taps does have words. My dad taught me the words as a kid. It begins with, “Day is done, gone the sun…” While you listen, think about those 1.3 million men and women and take a moment to say thank you for your sacrifice.
So, what can you do? 
Somewhere toward the beginning of this, I said to live life. The old saying that many gave some and some gave all really does mean something. To not live in freedom is to dishonor those who gave all. Freedom carries a responsibility, though. Freedom is maintained by us, the people, through eternal vigilance.
Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” That’s not a political statement; it’s a fact. Freedom means holding the government accountable to the Constitution. Going back to Chamberlain and peace in our time and the 60 million killed as a result of his appeasement, freedom means being willing to stand and fight for what’s right.
We’re not exactly facing the German war machine today, but some things are similar. Russia is taking, or trying to take, over territories similarly. China is expanding its threat in the Pacific. Will either start a 
world war to achieve their ends? No, I don’t.
We have a crazy man leading North Korea, a real threat from Iran, and groups sponsored by it. Would he start a world war? Maybe. He’s a wild card. What we do have, though, is Iran stating that jihad will not end until America is destroyed. Do I believe Iran would? Yes, I do.
Are there terrorists out there that wish us harm? I believe there are. Can the latter two be stopped? Sure, if you’re willing to stand against them and not worry about the name of a football team, what’s politically correct and what’s not, or getting over arguments about minimum wage, and not giving in and remembering it’s not the color of our skin that defines us, sex, origin or ethnicity; it’s that we are all Americans that defines us as a nation. We’re in this together.
By the way, I don’t say Happy Memorial Day. It’s a personal thing for me. A somber day of remembrance to say thank you.
Thanks to anyone who actually read this, and now, TAPS!
“TAPS” For Memorial Day (youtube.com)