Memorial Day Litany:
Reading:
Major Michael Davis O’Donnell, 1 January 1970, Dak To, Vietnam, Listed on February 7, 1978 as Killed In Action, March 24, 1970:
“If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.
And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.”
Listing of Casualties (spoken over music):
(excludes Civil War)
P: We remember and honor those whose lives where given in service to us:
C: The 184,000 who served in the Revolutionary War and the 4,435 who died in that service.
P: The 286,703 who served in the War of 1812 and the 6,765 who died in that service.
C: The 78,718 who served in the Mexican War and the 13,283 who died in that service.
P: The 306,760 who served in the Spanish-American War and the 2,446 who died in that service.
C: The 4,743,826 who served in World War One and the 116,708 who died in that service.
P: The 16,353,659 who served in World War Two and the 407,316 who died in that service.
C: The 5,764,143 who served in the Korean War and the 33,651 who died in that service.
P: The 8,744,000 who served in the Vietnam War and the 58,168 who died in that service.
C: The 467,539 who served in the Persian Gulf War and the 268 who died in that service.
P: The 320,000 who served and are serving in the Afghanistan War and the 492 who have died in that service.
C: The 1,680,000 who served and are serving in the Iraq War and the 4,021 who have died in that service.
(includes Civil War)
P: We remember and honor those whose lives where given in service to us:
C: The 184,000 who served in the Revolutionary War and the 4,435 who died in that service.
P: The 286,703 who served in the War of 1812 and the 6,765 who died in that service.
C: The 78,718 who served in the Mexican War and the 13,283 who died in that service.
P: The 3,500,000 who served in the Civil War and the 530,000 who died in that service.
C: The 306,760 who served in the Spanish-American War and the 2,446 who died in that service.
P: The 4,743,826 who served in World War One and the 116,708 who died in that service.
C: The 16,353,659 who served in World War Two and the 407,316 who died in that service.
P: The 5,764,143 who served in the Korean War and the 33,651 who died in that service.
C: The 8,744,000 who served in the Vietnam War and the 58,168 who died in that service.
P: The 467,539 who served in the Persian Gulf War and the 268 who died in that service.
C: The 320,000 who served and are serving in the Afghanistan War and the 492 who have died in that service.
P: The 1,680,000 who served and are serving in the Iraq War and the 4,021 who have died in that service.
Note: Civil War numbers are the total of both Union and Confederate soldiers. Also, they are a compromise between various numbers from various sources. In other words, nobody really knows and the numbers are an estimate - somewhere between the high estimates and the low ones. LF
Reading:
Song: When Memory Fades
Text: Mary Louise Bringle, b. 1953. Text © by GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Arr. © 1932 A
Music: Finlandia 111011101110, Jean Sibelius, 1865-1957; arr. Gunnar J. Malmin, Corncordia Hymnal, 1931.
Within your Spirit, . . . Held in your heart, our deathless life is won.
P: Lord God, you are our hope and our confidence. Into your hands we commend the souls of those who have died trusting in your infinite mercy that you will reunite us all on that great day when the dead shall rise in Christ to live with you forever.
C: Amen.
Playing of Taps