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Home – Founding Fathers & American History – Memorial Day and the Oft-Forgotten Dead

Memorial Day and the Oft-Forgotten Dead

The rolling hills, dappled paths, and white crosses make Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia a place of quiet repose, deep emotion, and somber reflection.

Dutifully, the nation honors its military dead there, and on this 158th Memorial Day, countless Americans will rightfully and respectfully pay homage to those who gave the last full measure of devotion in service to their nation.

However, I want to point you to those who died in defense of their country during “periods of peace” and not war.

Do you know that during the period 1950 to 1990, reasonable estimates show as many as 130,000 service members died in training or operational missions unrelated to combat or health-related causes.

Training accidents alone during the early stages of aviation killed up to half as many during World War II as those lost in combat. During the period 1970 to 90 alone, the Department of Defense estimated that as many as 50,000 servicemembers died in non-combat, non-health-related incidents.

The Cold War, from 1947 to 1991, saw major conflicts such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the First Gulf........

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