Saturday, May 30, 2026 
4 
Saturday, May 30, 2026 
4 
Many of today’s veterans face challenges well beyond the battle-
field. Many struggle with PTSD, physical injuries, job placement 
and endless health challenges.
In any event, each veteran who gave the ultimate sacrifice 
represents a life cut short — young men and women who never 
came home, never started a family, never got to see the freedoms 
they died to protect. 
Their families carry that loss forever. Their sacrifice is not just na-
tional — it’s heartbreakingly personal. 
Yes, the purpose of Memorial Day is to honor the men and women 
who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. 
While we kick off this summer, let’s take some time to remember, 
thank and honor them for their service. 
While we do so, let’s also pay homage to all of the many men and 
women who have served, or are serving, our country. 
eras — from August 1990 through August 2001 and again from 
September 2001 onward.

More impressively, nearly 37,000 living veterans served in 
World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Many Americans confuse Memorial Day with Veterans 
Day. While Veterans Day honors all who have served — living or 
dead — Memorial Day is specifically for those who died in service.

It began after the Civil War as “Decoration Day,” a time to 
decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. Today, it’s a day of national 
mourning, and rightly so.

To date, more than 1.3 million Americans have died in military 
service. About 4,500 died during the American Revolution. 
In the Civil War, around 370,000 Union soldiers and an estimated 
260,000 Confederate soldiers lost their lives. 

We lost 116,516 in World War I and nearly 405,000 in World War 

II. The Korean War claimed 36,574 lives; the Vietnam War, 58,220.
Modern warfare has led to fewer battlefield deaths — a silver lining 
of improved medical care and technology.
Of the Americans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, 
more than 7,000 died. Nearly 50,000 were wounded and many still 
suffering from their injuries. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

More than 43 million Americans have served or are currently 
serving their country — and more than 1.3 million gave the 
ultimate sacrifice. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 
15.8 million U.S. veterans living today — about 6.1 percent 
of the adult population. Roughly half are age 65 or older and nearly 
2 million are under 35. 

Our older veterans served in World War II, Korea, and 
Vietnam. The younger veterans primarily served in Iraq and Afghanistan 
after the 9/11 attacks.

World War II veterans are dying at a rapid pace. According 
to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, fewer than 100,000 are 
still living, down from 16 million who served.

Of the 5.7 million Americans who served in the Korean 
War, approximately 767,000 are still alive. My father, who served 
during the Korean War, left us nearly three years ago at the age of 
89. 

As for Vietnam, around 5.6 million of the 8.7 million 
Americans who served in that war are still living.

To round out the numbers, more than 8.4 million veterans 
have served during the Gulf War era, which spans from 1990 to 
the present. Additionally, approximately 4.4 million served during 
peacetime.

Some living veterans served across multiple war periods. 
Nearly 63,000 served during the Vietnam War and both Gulf War 

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