Monday, May 26, 2008

Memorial Day 2008

How do you measure the cost of war? Is it measured in the numbered dead? Do we measure it in the numbered freed? Is the sum totaled in the hope of a future where freedom continues generation upon generation? Perhaps we shall never truly know the answer to this question. One thing is certain; we should never forget those who have given their life’s blood for this ‘idea’ we call, America.

Since America united as one nation, this great country surrendered its bravest to liberate the oppressed and ensure freedom for its citizens and future generations. Battle lines were drawn and blood was spilled on U.S. soil and foreign lands. These were the sacrifices made in America's wars.


American Revolution
Dates: 1775 - 1783
Where: Eastern seaboard of North America
How It Ended: The Treaty of Paris was signed on Sept. 3, 1783
American Battle Deaths: 4,435 (approx.)

War of 1812
Dates: 1812 - 1815
Where: Canada, Eastern seaboard of the United States, Great Lakes and Lake Champlain
How It Ended: The Treaty of Ghent was signed on Dec. 24, 1814. Unaware of the treaty, Gen. Andrew Jackson engaged and crushed the British at New Orleans on January 8, 1815.
American Battle Deaths: 2,260 (approx.)

Mexican War
Dates: 1846 - 1848
Where: Mexico and southwestern United States, including modern-day Texas, California and New Mexico
How It Ended: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on Feb. 2, 1848.
American Battle Deaths: 1,733 (approx.)

Civil War
Dates: 1861 - 1865
Where: Primarily in the Eastern half of the United States (east of the Mississippi River)
How It Ended: Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at the small settlement of Appomattox Court House in southwestern Virginia on April 9, 1865.
American Battle Deaths: Union forces 140,414 and Confederate forces 74,524 (approx.)

Spanish-American War
Dates: April 25 - Aug. 12, 1898
Where: Mainly in the Spanish possessions of Cuba and the Philippines
How It Ended: The Treaty of Paris was signed on Dec. 10, 1898.
American Battle Deaths: 385 (approx.)

World War I
Dates: 1914 - 1918
Where: The Atlantic Ocean and Europe
How It Ended: Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919.
American Battle Deaths: 53,402 (approx.)

World War II
Dates: 1939 - 1945
Where: Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australia, and Pacific islands including Hawaii, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
How It Ended: Japan was the last Axis power to surrender on August 14, 1945, after the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
American Battle Deaths: 291,557 (approx.)

Korean War
Dates: 1950 - 1953
Where: North and South Korea
How It Ended: The war reached a stalemate in June 1951. An armistice was finally reached on July 27, 1953.
American Battle Deaths: 33,741 (approx.)

Vietnam War
Dates: 1954 - 1975
Where: Southeast AsiaHow It Ended: The U.S. withdrew after a ceasefire in 1973.
American Battle Deaths: 47,424 (approx.)


Persian Gulf War
Dates: August 1990 - April 1991
Where: Iraq and KuwaitHow It Ended: After a four-day ground war, an American-led coalition declared victory. A cease-fire agreement was signed on April 9, 1991.
American Battle Deaths: 147 (approx.)

War on Terrorism
Dates: Oct. 7, 2001 (War begins with U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom, in Afghanistan, after the terrorist attacks against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Approximately 3,000 civilians and members of the military died as a result of the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.) - Conflict continues...
Where: An effort to combat terrorism world-wide begins in Afghanistan.
American Deaths in Afghanistan: more than 450 as of May 2008

Iraq War
Dates: March 19, 2003 - Conflict continues...
Where: Iraq
American Deaths: more than 4,000 as of May 2008


All material taken from the History Channel Official Website.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post Bro Joseph. You really have a way with words and brought tears to my eyes.

Misty