Picnics, barbeques.. summer and steaks.. it all begins this weekend.

Memorial Day weekend often is looked at as the unofficial start of the storied summer season.

Of course lost in the summer heat and excitement of the season often is the true meaning of the holiday itself: The war dead. The many, many war dead that fought throughout the history of the United States..

The American Revoultion: 4,435 dead..
war of 1812: 2,260 dead..
Civil War: 140,414 Union dead; 74,524 Confederate dead..
Spanish-American war: 385 dead..
World War I: 53,402 dead..
World War II: 291,557 dead..(113,842 nontheater dead, over 671,000 wounded)
Korean War: 33,741 dead..
Vietnam War: 47,424 battle dead.. (10,785 other deaths in service, 32,000 nontheater deaths)
Grenada: 18 dead..
Panama: 23 dead..
Gulf War I: 147 dead..
Somalia: 18 dead, 1 famously drug through the streets of Mogadishu..
Kosovo War: 0 battle dead, 2 total dead..
Afghanistan war: 686 dead *estimated latest numbers* ..
Gulf War II *Iraq war*: 4,200 dead *estimated latest numbers* .. Over 30,000 wounded..

Cook your heart out.. drink your weekend away .. start the summer the way your red-blooded Americanism dictates you do .. But think of Taps playing somewhere far in the distance.. think of that lonely funeral procession with a flag draped over the casket.. and a wife and family looking at the fallen's tombstone..All for you to enjoy your food and drink and summer season..



BRYAN SMOLOCK SCHMUCKRAKER.COM SUNDAY MAY 24 2009 10:13 AM