Memorial Day 2018: Remembering The Missing And The Fallen

Pete
by Pete

From everyone here at The Firearm Blog, we hope you are able to spend at least part of Memorial Day 2018 with family and friends, enjoying the unofficial beginning of summer. As a reminder, today we reflect on the men and women who have sacrificed themselves in the name of freedom and liberty for the hope of peace for future generations.

Rememberances, moments of silence and ceremonies are great ways to show respect today, Over the rest of the year, we can honor those who have fought and died for freedom by striving to make our country and the world a better place. Our continuing mission should be to ensure that their sacrifices were not made in vain.


Memorial Day 2018 – American Deaths by Major conflict:

  • American Revolutionary War – 25,000
  • War of 1812 – 15,000
  • Mexican American War – 13,283
  • American Civil War – 655,000
  • World War I – 116,516
  • World War II – 405,399
  • Korean War – 36,516
  • Vietnam War – 58,209
  • Gulf War – 294
  • War in Afghanistan – 2,216
  • Iraq War – 4,497
  • Total Deaths in all conflicts – 1,354,664+
  • Total Missing In Action for all conflicts – 40,031+
Source: Wikipedia

Saint Crispin’s Day Speech – Henry V

If we are mark’d to die, we are enough
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmorland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call’d the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.”
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words—
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester—
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd—
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.


Pete
Pete

Silencers - Science Pete@thefirearmblog.com

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  • CapeMorgan CapeMorgan on May 28, 2018

    I am amazed that there is at least one prominent commenter on TFB that does not share this sentiment.

  • JDC JDC on May 28, 2018

    As someone with 34 years in the service, and 3 wars in my rear view mirror, many thanks for this respectful perspective.

    Not much for public ceremonies on these things. I just started my days with prayers for my fallen comrades.

    A photo of a Commanding Officer who also was my mentor and best friend in the military graces my mantel place today and always. Lost him in the Persian Gulf in 1997, and seldom a day goes by that I don't miss him.

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