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
Welcome, my name is 
I too think of our military daily! They are included in my prayers as well. I am tired of the wars too. My heart aches for the Mothers, Wives and Children who have lost their Son, Dad and Husband. Unfortunately, there has never been peace in that part of the world. Yes, we do live in some sorry times. It is sad. The current President of the United States of America did not even go to Arlington National cemetery this year on Memorial Day. I took it personally and found it disgraceful!! I personally find that insulting to our fallen dead and every man/woman serving us now.
Norm: I read the blog daily. It is like my thing to do when I get out of bed with a cup of hot tea.
I read this article the first day you put in on. I noticed there were no comments. I was stunned. On this 8th day after being uploaded, still no comments. I do not understand why. You did a great job penning this article.
What is wrong with our country?? Why is there no support, appreciation or pride for our Military?
I come from a family that nearly all men served in one of the 4 Branches of our Military. I can remember as a child that on Memorial Day Weekend my Grandpa would go cut wild flowers growing near the Ohio River and bring them home. He would take coffee cans that were saved all year and cover them with aluminum foil and fill with water to put the freshly cut wild flowers in them. Then they would go in the trunk and floorboards of his old 4 door Ford Galaxie 500 and off we would go to the cemeteries. We had a brown bag with little American Flags to place on the graves of men who served in the military…..we did not even know most of them!! My Grandpa had noticed that nobody decorated the year before so that tombstone was added to the list for a flag the following year. A single long stem flower was placed on the grave. I would Grandpa tear up when he looked at the dates on the tombstone and saw how young the veteran was at the time he died.
Three weeks ago my Preacher announced his son who just graduated was going in the Army and would leave in July. They left this past Monday on their motorcycles to head to Flagstaff, AZ and the Grand Canyon. A 3 week trip. I pray they have a safe trip!
I think we do not take the time to appreciate our military.
I also do not think folks realize how safe our Military keeps.
Everyone should remember the Military every day!!
Norm, the readers were also very interested in the economy. I was just reading past articles and comments. The readers fired up on the “economy”. I guess the economy is up there with Billy Lane and OCC!!
I totally agree with you.
Well Sandie I guess more people are interested in commenting on Orange County Chopper or Billy Lane! I too am a military veteran; Air Force. I just goes to show the state of our country at war right now.
Afghanistan is officially the longest war in our nation’s history even surpassing Vietnam. Maybe folks are tired of it. As for myself, I think about our troops on a daily basis.
Norm
I know. Too bad they are not fired up about Memorial Day!
Norm