Because of the Brave, We are the Land of the Free. But, we forget sometimes there are others...

[cherokeeprogressive]

No matter what you might think of the United States today, you are free to say what you feel thanks to The Brave.

Life for you might SUCK, but you are free to complain about it openly thanks to The Brave.

I'm posting this because sometimes we forget there are Veterans who never carried a rifle, drove a tank, flew an airplane, or navigated a ship. There are Veterans who've never been NEAR combat. There are Veterans who've lost their lives nevertheless. Sometimes we forget about them... They also died in service to Their Country.

Hundreds of Good American Citizens volunteer to serve their country in one capacity or another and die in TRAINING ACCIDENTS every year. Are they less important because they didn't lose their lives while fighting an enemy?

I think not.

They wore The Uniform, and they died. They died in service to Their Country. No one builds monuments in their honor.

Monday belongs as much to them as it does to any other person who gave their lives to something they believed was bigger than self.

[Half-Century Man]

1. Any who die

Any of the people who lose their lives in any form of public service deserve remembrance. For lack of a better phrase, We look at the war dead as the "rock stars" of memorial day, but all deserve respect. A few examples are fallen Military members, Police, Firefighters, EMTs, Teachers, Smoke jumpers, Game Wardens, CDC Doctors, Civil rights marchers, etc. It could be argued that Union organizers and Peace corps volunteers belong too.

These are the people who paid with everything they had, for someone else to have chances at everything.

[GeorgeGist]

2. You betcha ...

[YeahSureRight]

3. Actually most vets never even see combat, only about 25% ever see combat

most in the military are in support roles.

Yes some in support roles still can get killed but if you are in the rear the odds are lower that you will be killed in actual combat.

Yes you are right about the forgotten but face it less then 5% of Americans ever even served in the military so their is no reason for the 95% to even care.

To me as a vet Memorial Day is just a day off now, sure I remember those that died serving the country, many I even knew, but I do that just about every day. I don't need a day set aside to remember the dead, who are dead and really don't give a crap if you remember them or not.

[madokie]

4. You are right

Thanks to the anti-war protesters my war was shut down. I give them as much or more credit as anyone else. It was them who helped immensely in making it unpopular to the point that our powers to be seen fit to bring us home.
We must not forget what part they played in all this too.
I hope I'm not in the wrong in feeling this way.