Today is Monday, May 31, 2010. As of today over 1 million men and women have given their lives in the service or our nation. Today, Memorial Day, is the day we honor their sacrifice.

As of May 30, 2010, 4,387 men and women have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 1,075 have died Operation Enduring Freedom. (Afghanistan)

Freedom is not free. Those who have given their lives for our freedom paid for our freedom with all they had to give, their lives.

On May 24, 2010, 22 year old PFC. Christopher R. Barton Died in Operation Enduring Freedom, in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.

On May 24, 2010, 44 year old Major Ronald W. Culver Jr. Died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, in Numaniyah, Iraq, when insurgents attacked his vehicle with a makeshift bomb.

On May 22, 2010, 24 year old PFC. Jason D. Fingar. Died in Operation Enduring Freedom, in Durai, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his military vehicle struck a makeshift bomb.

On May 21, 2010, 26 year old Staff SGT. Amilcar H. Gonzalez Died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ash Shura, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.

On May 20, 2010, 26 year old Spec. Stanley J. Sokolowski, III Died in Operation Iraqi Freedom, in Kirkuk, Iraq, in a non-combat related incident.

On May 19, 2010, 38 year old Staff SGT. Shane S. Barnard Died in Operation Enduring Freedom, in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when he stepped on a secondary makeshift bomb.

On May 18, 2010, 46 year old PFC Col. John M. McHugh Died in Operation Enduring Freedom, Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their convoy with a vehicle-borne makeshift bomb.

I have listed 7 brave men who have given their lives in the service our nation, for our freedom in the past week. To honor those who have given their lives for our freedom is to remember them and what they did for us.

To see a list, pictures, and details of all who have died in our latest wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, click here now. I know it takes a bit of time to go through each person by date, but it will bring home the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Today is not a day for picnics, and sales at the local mall, it is a day to honor those who paid for our freedom by giving their lives for us. It is a solemn day. Tell your kids what this day is for. Study it for yourself.

God bless the United States of America. God bless our fallen hero’s.

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., 2010