MEMORIAL DAY: The BBQs and other celebrations are a great way to get together and be with family and friends, and the unofficial kickoff to summer is nice. But Memorial Day should also be a day that honors Americans who have died in service to their country. More than BBQs and sales, the day also includes reflection for those lost in battle, fighting for the freedoms shared by this nation.
Basic freedoms that many take for granted came at the cost of a life. Freedoms and rights such as freedom of speech, trial by jury, and protection against cruel and unusual punishment; freedom to practice a religion of choice, freedom to vote, freedom to choose to serve in the military, freedom to get an education.
A few Memorial Day Facts from WalletHub and others that might be surprising:
46 Million — Number of veterans who have served the country in wartime
15 Million — Projected number of living wartime veterans in 2022
657,000 — Members of the military services who have lost their lives in conflict
421,000 — Estimated number of WWII casualties
260,000 — Number of graves at Arlington National Cemetery, each adorned with an American flag on Memorial Day
3 p.m. — National Moment of Remembrance, as designated by Congress in 2000
1,000+ — Number of Active duty service members who participate in the National Memorial Day parade
1.5 Million — Number of people who will watch the National Memorial Day parade on TV
91 — Number of members of the 117th Congress who have served in the U.S. military, the lowest total since at least World War II.
And one more:
818 — Number of hot dogs consumed every second from Memorial Day to Labor Day (7 Billion total).
