Commemorating U.S. Soldiers Fallen in Iraq

Honoring the soldiers who died in the service of the United States with a formal funeral service is a great tradition and is only one of the deeds that must be undertaken to repay in some way the sacrifice that these individuals have made for their nation. It does not change how each soldier is remembered by his or her family, friends, and loved ones, but it shows that we as a people do not take for granted their giving the most precious that they have - their lives - for our benefit. It provides a certain measure of consolation to their families, the means to keep these sacrifices in memories of future generations, and the courage and steadfastness to current and future members of the military who know that their efforts will not be in vain and will not be forgotten if they are to fall on the field of battle.

Many an orator in the past have proclaimed that the war in Iraq is an unnecessary and unjust war, and the soldiers who died in it did so in vain, that their efforts and sacrifice was wasted. They compare this war to the wars of the past, particularly World War II but also the Korean War and the first Persian Gulf War, to draw their conclusions. These individuals must keep in mind, however, that the soldiers who died in Iraq during this war did not fight for the Iraqi natural resources, or to liberate the Iraqis from the regime of Saddam Hussein, or to bring democracy to Iraq. They fought, and continue to fight, first and foremost for the United States of America. In this way, they differ in no way from numerous generations of military personnel that preceded them. All those soldiers of the past have fought at different times and for different reasons, but all of them ultimately fought - and many of them died - for their country.

The United States would not have come into being without its statesmen, but having been born, it would not have survived beyond infancy without its army. Those soldiers of the Continental Army fought for "the Cause" - to be able to enjoy the freedoms accorded to its citizens by the government of a democratic republic. From that point forward, the American military has always served and fought for America and the ideals that it represents. The achievements of American soldiers are the result of not just an excellent military training, strengths of their bodies, high quality of their arms and equipment, expertise of their generals, and courage of their spirit. A big role in their achievement is played by the strength of their convictions, which in turn stems from their ability to participate in the life of their country and enjoy the qualities of it that they serve to preserve and uphold. American soldiers know exactly what they are fighting for - they are fighting for the country in which the laws protect them from discrimination, oppression, and violence, where they receive equal educational and professional opportunities along with others, where their children are guaranteed quality education, and where they and their parents are guaranteed economic security in their old age.

American soldiers feel proud not only for their country, but also for the armed forces of which they are part. They are proud to be part of the volunteer army that is the best trained, best equipped, and best led fighting force in the world, and at the same time the one showing the most possible consideration to non-combatants in the battle zone. They are proud to be part of the army that will fight against overwhelming odds, like the American soldiers did in Somalia, and then guard humanitarian supplies being delivered to the same people who just a few weeks ago were their enemies. They are proud to be part of the army that makes it one of the most important points of its operations to not leave any of its fallen soldiers behind. They are proud to be part of the army that takes care of its own, both on and off the battlefield. Just as the American soldiers fight and die for their country, they are equally prepared to fight and die for each other.

As individuals, American soldiers are not necessarily smarter, braver, stronger, or more honest than an average person. As soldiers of the United States Army, however, they are imbued with the strength of character and the spirit of courage and compassion that is without precedent throughout the world. Their deaths in the battle zone are not always from enemy fire, and there is often little in the circumstances of their deaths that commonly would be considered heroic or meaningful. However, the fact that their sacrifice was made for the highest possible goal - that of ensuring that the United States as the representation of human freedoms and human decency continues to endure - makes the death of every American soldier, regardless of the circumstances, the most noble and the most heroic.

It is for this reason, among many others, that we honor our fallen soldiers with formal funerals, public memorials, naming landmarks after them, and providing for their families. The best way to honor the fallen soldiers, however, is for every American to do everything in their power to uphold the ideals that define America and for which these soldiers gave their lives. They died to preserve our personal liberties, and we as a nation must do what we can to ensure that these liberties are not diminished or destroyed. They died to preserve democracy, and every American must uphold the nation's democratic institutions - and this means not simply stating that one supports democracy, but actually becoming involved, through the power of one's vote and one's voice, in the shaping of the nation's policies. A healthy democracy is the one actively used by the citizens of the state; without active participation by everyone, a democracy is likely to turn into the tyranny of the voting minority.