Veteran's Day

The price of freedom. It’s a tough thing to calculate. It isn’t something you’re entitled to. It can’t be purchased, or traded, or gifted. It’s something men and women from all walks of life have fought for since the birth of this great nation. And not just ours, but the freedom of millions of other people around this globe who couldn’t fight for themselves.

How many? Take a look:

War of Independence	25,000
Quasi-War	20
Barbary Wars	35
War of 1812	20,000
Mexican-American War	13,283
Civil War	623,026
Spanish-American War	2,446
Philippine War	4,196
Mexican Revolution	35
Haiti Occupation	146
World War 1	116,708
World War 2	407,316
Korean War	36,914
Vietnam War	58,169
El Salvador	20
Beirut	266
Persian Gulf Support	39
Invasion of Grenada	19
Invasion of Panama	40
Gulf War	269
Somalia	43
Bosnia	12
Afghanistan	609
Iraqi	4,507

That’s right: one million, three hundred thirteen thousand, one hundred and eighteen people have given their lives so that you could stop on your way to work today and buy that Starbuck’s coffee.

Freedom isn’t free.

Take a moment today to remember those who have gone before us and fought for freedom. Some are still here, but too many never came home.

They deserve to be remembered.

“God, I pray for those who are in harms way today. Wrap your loving arms around them and keep them safe. Amen.”