We Honor America’s Fallen Fighting Men and Women this Memorial Day

America's Legacy in South Korea: due in large part to the sacrifices of America's fighting men, only half of the Korean peninsula is mired in tyranny and poverty while the other half, South Korea, has emerged as a free nation and one of the most prosperous and productive countries on earth. The above is a nighttime satellite photo of the North Korea and South Korea. The many lights signal the progress and economic development of the South while the North's near total darkness offers stark proof of the abject failure of communism.

By Peter LaBarbera

One of my regrets in life is never having served in the military. Today we honor those who have, especially the brave American men and women who died in the service of our country. Every year around this time we hear the phrase, “paid the ultimate price” again and again, but we must never let it become trite. The fact is, Americans are free and secure because of the past and current sacrifices of noble men and women for whom patriotism is a way of life and not something to be mocked or trivialized.

And untold millions of people in other countries live better and freer lives thanks to the sacrifices of servicemembers fighting for them (and us) — as evidenced by this astonishing nighttime satellite photo of North and South Korea. The Americans who died in the Korean war certainly did not die in vain.

Through all the self-criticism of the United States by our own citizens — some of it responsible, some not — we forget America’s great achievements throughout the world. We helped save the world from the spread of fascism and its murderous cousin, communism. And America remains a benign superpower that, unlike the old Soviet Union, generally leaves countries with greater freedom and opportunity after our involvement. (Notable exceptions like Vietnam are the fault of reckless and feckless politicians, not the military.)

Who better than the families of fallen soldiers knows the sadness and heartache caused by the wartime deaths of the many servicemen and servicewomen who, indeed, gave their lives for America (and Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.)? And yet there is an abiding pride that flows from the nobility of serving the cause of freedom led by the most blessed (as in God-blessed) nation on earth. Today we ask you to reflect in gratitude on the price of liberty that we — and millions upon millions of citizens of foreign, allied nations — enjoy, thanks to our brave military men and women.

Please spend a few moments — or more than a few — on the “Fallen Heroes Memorial” website, which lists the fallen servicemembers of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). Although incomplete and dated (it was last updated in 2006), it has a link to each soldier’s name, which goes to a separate page where family members and friends can post messages about (and to) the deceased. You cannot help but be deeply moved by the messages and what they say about the servicemen themselves and those patriotic American families who are the backbone of this nation.

Our heartfelt gratitude is extended to all the families of our heroic servicemen and servicewomen who lost their lives in the service of the United States of America.