As we approach Memorial Day, I've been thinking about Old Glory and the men who fought and died to keep her flying.
In times of triumph, trial and tragedy, our citizens unite under our flag. Deep in our bones, we recognize the flag's meaning, the price paid for all it symbolizes, and the special place it occupies in our culture and conscience.
To commemorate Memorial Day, we're going to have a little quiz. Quickly, How many wars has the USA fought from 1775 to the present? How many military deaths have occurred? What was the cost? That's a big challenge, so I'm going to supply the answer as presented by the American Legion Magazine, May, 2015.
WAR AMERICAN DEATHS COST
Revolutionary 1775-1783 4,435 (1770's dollars) $101 million
Barbary 1801-1795 &
1805-1815 35 $l million
War of 1812 1812-1815 2,260 $90 million
Indian Wars 1813-1838 &
1866-1890 1,000 unknown
Mexican 1846-1848 13,283 $71 million
Civil 1861-1865 646,392 $3,182 billion
Spanish/Amer. 1898 2,446 $283 million
Philippines 1899-1901 4,200 unknown
Mexico 1914-1919 21 unknown
World War I 1917-1918 116,516 $20 billion
Cold War 1947-1991 0 $4.65 trillion
Berlin Airlift 1948-1949 $224 million
Korean 1950-1953 36,574 $30 billion
Vietnam 1965-1975 58,220 $111 billion
Lebanon 1982-1984 265 unknown
Grenada 1983 19 unknown
Persian Gulf 1987-1988 0 unknown
Panama 1989-1990 23 unknown
Gulf War 1990-1991 382 $61 billion
Iraqi-Kurdistan 1991 5 unknown
Somalia 1992-1994 43 $221 billion
Haiti 1994-1996 4 $2 billion
Bosnia 1995-2004 1 $14.83 billion
Global War on
Terrorism 2001-present 2,355 unknown
Kosovo 1999-present 5 $9.56 billion
Afghanistan 2001-present 2,215 $825.7 billion
Iraq 2003-2011 4,491 $820 million
Operation Inherent
Resolve 2014-present 3 $8.4 million
On May 25, 2015, respectfully remove your hat, place your right hand over your heart, lift your eyes to Old Glory and thank God for every person who has ever served in our military forces.
Quote:
A war by any other name is still a war.
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