It is easy for some to forget the meaning of Memorial Day. For me, it is a sacred day of remembrance, for I have served our great country in the U.S. Marine Corp. during the mid-1970’s. Memorial Day is a day to honor and thank all those who have served in the military, in times of war and peace. We remember all of those who have died in military service, more than 400,000 in World War II, more than 30,000 in Korea, more than 50,000 in Vietnam. Earlier this month, the number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan since the horrific day of Sept. 11, 2001, exceeded 6,000. Nearly 50,000 U.S. military service members have been wounded, although that number is likely to be revised upward.

The first Memorial Day (first called Decoration Day) was 30 May 1868, three years after the end of the American Civil War.  Gen. John A. Logan, U.S. [...]