Memorial Day.

This day is not about vacations, or picnics, or just having the day off.

This day is about remembering the veterans that died in the defense of this great nation.

To give you an idea as to how many have given their lives for freedom, please read on.

All gave some. Some gave all.

American Revolution (1775–1783)
Total servicemembers 217,000
Battle deaths 4,435
Nonmortal woundings 6,188

War of 1812 (1812–1815)
Total servicemembers 286,730
Battle deaths 2,260
Nonmortal woundings 4,505

Indian Wars (approx. 1817–1898)
Total servicemembers 106,000(1)
Battle deaths 1,000(1)

Mexican War (1846–1848)
Total servicemembers 78,718
Battle deaths 1,733
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 11,550
Nonmortal woundings 4,152

Civil War (1861–1865)
Total servicemembers (Union) 2,213,363
Battle deaths (Union) 140,414
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Union) 224,097
Nonmortal woundings (Union) 281,881
Total servicemembers (Conf.) 1,050,000
Battle deaths (Conf.) 74,524
Other deaths in service (nontheater) (Conf.) 59,297(2)
Nonmortal woundings (Conf.) unknown

Spanish-American War (1898–1902)
Total servicemembers 306,760
Battle deaths 385
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 2,061
Nonmortal woundings 1,662

World War I (1917–1918)
Total servicemembers 4,734,991
Battle deaths 53,402
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 63,114
Nonmortal woundings 204,002
Living veterans fewer than 500

World War II (1940–1945)
Total servicemembers 16,112,566
Battle deaths 291,557
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 113,842
Nonmortal woundings 671,846
Living veterans 4,762,000(1)

Korean War (1950–1953)
Total servicemembers 5,720,000
Serving in-theater 1,789,000
Battle deaths 33,741
Other deaths in service (theater) 2,827
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 17,730
Nonmortal woundings 103,284
Living veterans 3,734,000(1)

Vietnam War (1964–1975)
Total servicemembers 8,744,000
Serving in-theater 3,403,000
Battle deaths 47,410
Other deaths in service (theater) 10,789
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 32,000
Nonmortal woundings 153,303
Living veterans 8,295,000(3)

Gulf War (1990–1991)
Total servicemembers 2,183,000
Serving in-theater 665,476
Battle deaths 147
Other deaths in service (theater) 382
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 1,565
Nonmortal woundings 467
Living veterans 1,852,000(1)

1. Veterans Administration estimate as of Sept. 30, 2002.
2. Estimated figure. Does not include 26,000–31,000 who died in Union prisons.
3. Approximately 1,065,000 veterans had service in multiple conflicts. They are counted under each conflict, but only once in the total.
Source: Department of Defense and Veterans Administration.

America's Wars
Total Military service during war 42,348,460
Battle deaths 651,008
Other deaths in service (theater) 13,998
Other deaths in service (nontheater) 525,256
Nonmortal woundings 1,431,290
Living war veterans 17,578,5003
Living veterans 25,038,459

Post-Vietnam Combat Casualties(1)
Place Dates Casualties
Lebanon Aug. 1982–Feb. 1984 254
Grenada Oct.–Nov. 1983 18
Libya April 10–16, 1986 2
Panama Dec. 1989–Jan. 1990 23
Persian Gulf Jan. 16–April 6, 1991 147
Somalia Dec. 1992–May 1993 29
Haiti Sept. 1994–April 1996 4
Yugoslavia March–June 1999 0
Afghanistan Oct. 2001–Jan. 2004(2) 32
Iraq March 20, 2003–May 18, 2004(2) 574
1. Defined as battle deaths. Does not include deaths from accidents.
2. A total of 787 Americans have been killed, including 213 accidental deaths and other deaths not the result of hostile attacks. 4,524 were wounded in combat (May 18); a total of roughly 9,000 were wounded, seriously injured, or evacuated for illness (mid-April).

Don't forget what this day is really for.
Thank a veteran and remember the fallen.
God Bless our troops.