What Should Americans Be Remembering on Memorial Day?

We should be remembering the 4,435 American troops who died in the Revolutionary War.

We should be remembering the 2,260 American troops who died in the War of 1812.

We should be remembering the 13,283 American troops who died in the Mexican War.

We should be remembering the estimated 761,000 American troops who died in the Civil War.

We should be remembering the 2,446 American troops who died in the Spanish-American War. 

We should be remembering the 116,516 American troops who died in World War I.

We should be remembering the 405,399 American troops who died in World War II.

We should be remembering the 36,574 American troops who died in the Korean War.

We should be remembering the 58,220 American troops who died in the Vietnam conflict. 

We should be remembering the 383 American troops who died in the Persian Gulf war.

We should be remembering the 4,410 American troops who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

We should be remembering the 73 American troops who died in Operation New Dawn.

We should be remembering the 2,347 American troops who died in Operation Enduring Freedom.

We should be remembering the 76 American troops who died in Operation Inherent Resolve. 

We should be remembering the 69 American troops who died in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

We should be remembering the eight American troops who died in the Iranian hostage rescue mission.

We should be remembering the 265 American troops who died in the Lebanon peacekeeping mission.

We should be remembering the 19 American troops who died in Operation Urgent Fury.

We should be remembering the 23 American troops who died in Operation Just Cause.

We should be remembering the 43 American troops who died in Operation Restore Hope.

We should be remembering the four American troops who died in Operation Uphold Democracy.

“Our fallen heroes have not only written our history, they have shaped our destiny,” President Donald Trump said on Memorial Day in 2018. “They inspired their communities and uplifted their country and provided the best example of courage, virtue and valor the world will ever know.

“They fought and bled and died so that America would forever remain safe and strong and free.”

The numbers above were obtained from the Congressional Research Service and the U.S. Department of Defense.