While we eat our bratwurst, let’s remember this…
Blog written by Craig Dirkes, Salvation Army Northern Division writer/photographer
My wife’s grandpa, Ed, died peacefully two Saturdays ago at the age of 91. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served for three years aboard the USS Lexington during World War II. On Tuesday, I attended Ed’s burial at beautiful Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, where Ed’s casket lay wrapped in an American flag. A soldier blew “Taps” on a bugle. The ceremony was beyond powerful.
The day after the funeral, I checked to see how many U.S. WWII veterans are still alive. The answer: Just under 700,000, dying at a rate of 430 people per day. The National WWII Museum estimates that by 2036, none will be left.
With Memorial Day coming up in a few days, I then wondered: How many U.S. military members died during WWII? I found that answer as well – just over 400,000. While corroborating that number on other websites, I discovered a list of U.S. military deaths from all the major wars. They ranged from Desert Storm (383 deaths) to the American Civil War (750,000), with WWII and WWI (117,000) ranked second and third, respectively.
It struck me that all the U.S. military members who have died for our country were human beings just like my wife’s grandpa, with one sad exception: They lost the chance to live out the rest of their lives. They didn’t get to achieve their dreams like Ed, who went on to become a renowned businessman, a pilot, a race car driver, an expert fisherman, a gourmet chef, a beekeeper, a chicken farmer, a yachtsman, and a master storyteller, with five children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Three of Ed’s great-grandchildren are my own children, one of whom is pictured paying her respects to Ed while two soldiers folded the American flag resting on top of his casket. Without Ed, that beautiful little girl wouldn’t be alive. Nor would my wife, or our two other children.
In the early 1940s, Ed risked his life for his family, my family, and yours. Thankfully, he lived and created a legacy.
Others haven’t been so lucky. Throughout history, hundreds of thousands of brave, selfless men and women gave their lives so that we could enjoy ours in freedom. That includes soldiers like Charles H. Keating, 31, a Navy SEAL who died in combat a few weeks ago while serving in Iraq, killed by ISIS gunfire.
Today, on Memorial Day, while we’re eating bratwurst, or mowing our lawns, or relaxing with our families, let’s not forget to carve out a moment to remember the men and women who died while serving in America’s armed forces. We live in freedom because, and only because, of the ultimate sacrifice they made.
The Salvation Army Northern Division operates a range of programs that provide housing, counseling, rehabilitation, and more for veterans. Join The Salvation Army by volunteering or making a donation to support veterans and others your local community.