Remember those who have sacrificed all

Over the years, Memorial Day has morphed from a day of remembrance to a festive holiday that marks the start of summer, but Americans should take time tomorrow to think about the men and women who have given their lives in service to our nation, especially those who have been lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since March 2003, at least 4,081 U.S. troops and military civilians have died in Iraq. In Afghanistan, the number of dead stands at 506.

The latest to make that sacrifice was a soldier killed Thursday by a roadside bomb southwest of Baghdad. That's as much as the Department of Defense has made public - no name, no age, no hometown, no list of survivors.

But somewhere, there are family members and friends mourning the loss, like thousands of others before them as a seemingly intractable conflict continues to steal the breath and flesh of our nation's warriors.

Polls tell us that the majority of Americans have come to view the Iraq war as a horrible error, but the commemoration isn't the time to dwell on such thoughts. It is a moment to consider the solemn gifts offered and the obligation Americans have to honor all who have given their lives in wars past and present.