ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Our illustrious news media is reporting that the number of military deaths in the Iraq campaign has topped 1,000. No doubt someone will try to spin this number to suit their political ambitions. The number will climb higher still before we are done in Iraq. Such is the nature of war.

Consider these numbers:

-At the battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War, 7,058 soldiers were killed (3,155 Union, 3,903 Confederate). When the wounded and missing numbers are added, the total goes over 50,000.

-During the invasion of Okinawa, over 12,000 US military personnel were killed.

-In the second week of October 1943, the Eighth Air Force lost over 1,000 crewman in bombing raids over Europe.

-About 2,500 American troops died during the invasion of Normandy on D-Day (an exact number has not yet been determined).

-In the year 1968, about 14,000 US troops died in Vietnam.

As Robert E. Lee once said, "It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it."

To learn more about the brave men and women who have given their lives in the war on terrorism, visit the Fallen Heroes Memorial.