[violet lightning]

I couldn't disagree more either, and actually take strong offense about what you posted.
Memorial Day to me, is when we as Americans honor our fallen soldiers who have died serving their country. It is not the same as Veteran's Day, where we honor and thank our men and women who haved served their country in wartime and in Peace.

Memorial Day is strictly for those who have died serving their country.
This includes soldiers from the Revolutionary War, where we won our independence as a nation, to the Civil War, where we fought to stay together as a nation, to World Wars I and II where we fought for our very existence as a nation, to Vietnam, Korea, The Gulf War and now the Wars on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.

When we honor our fallen comrads, we honor their courage, duty and sacrifice, not their political views or those of their commanders.
Read any commendation for any Medal of Honor Winner, (most given posthumously), read one of those, and then tell me we shouldn't honor their memories and their sacrifice.
Tell a surviving member of a family who lost someone in Iraq or Afghanistan that their service or their death is dishonorable.
My grandfather served in World War I, my father and two Uncles served in World War II. All saw combat, and thank God all came back. My cousin wasn't so lucky in Vietnam. Say what you want about that war, and the men who conducted it, but I know many men and women, including my cousin, who served with honor and courage and paid the ultimate sacrifice.In my cousins case, he died trying to evacuate wounded on his second (voluntary) trip back. I know men and women who serve in the Middle East too. Some on 2nd and 3rd tours because they believe in what they are doing, and believe they are having a positive impact. They are all good people, with good hearts, and a strong sense of duty and sevice. But of course, those stories don't get told that much on CNN.
I can't and won't argue the merits of the Iraq War, or the war in Afghanistan. (though in both cases they were murdurous, repressive, tortuous regimes that set back women's rights a couple of centuries and in the case of Afghanistan destroyed priceless world archaeological treasures as well)

What I can argue is the motivations of the men and women who serve this country in our armed forces. They have VOLUNTEERED to put their lives on the line to protect all of us. Part of that duty is obeying your Commander-In- Chief, whether its George W. Bush or Barack Obama.
The men and women we honor today have done that and more. They have made the ultimate sacrifice that anyone can make. They died protecting their country, their families, their brothers and sisters in arms, and over 250,000 died protecting not just our freedom , but most of the worlds as well.
I think thats something worth remembering

PS: Map of the Fallen is an amazing project.
Hank, I appreciate that you love Americans, I just felt strongly about this one.