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May 27, 2012

Our View: Today, remember war dead

The Free Press

— The NATO summit last week points toward ending the more than decade-old U.S-led. intervention in Afghanistan. But before we look ahead to that taking place in 2014, there are the lives lost that need to be recognized.

The war there has taken the lives of nearly 2,000 U.S. troops. Add to that the nearly 4,500 lives lost in Iraq since 2001, and there are nearly 6,500 more war dead to honor this Memorial Day after a decade of modern-day warfare for U.S. soldiers. Of that total, 95 are from Minnesota.

Some of those young troops are from the south-central region, including Jacob Thompson, 26, of North Mankato. He died Aug. 6, 2007, in Iraq. Thompson has a special place in the community’s heart with North Mankato dedicating a fishing pier on Spring Lake in his honor. The scenic spot is a living tribute to his years as a kid spent fishing at the pond during his happy childhood. It’s a metaphor for the kind of life rural Minnesota soldiers now serving likely wish for themselves and their own children for those who are fathers or fathers-to-be.

Remembering who we’ve lost also prods us to remember how grateful we are for the soldiers who make it home. Just during the last month, 3,000 Minnesota National Guard members have returned to the state. Most are part of the largest deployment of Minnesota Red Bulls since World War II. The Minnesota National Guard lost 18 soldiers since 9/11.

Despite the tears of joy and laughter during the Red Bulls’ welcome-home gatherings, these troops have put in multiple deployments and missed seeing family and friends over precious time. One soldier told a reporter when he got off the troop bus, he was wondering whose child he saw crying and realized she was his — grown so much he didn’t recognize her.

For not only the lives lost in war, but for all of those soldiers who lost days, months, years of their normal lives, we owe thanks to you during this Memorial Day.

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