On War: Eight Years of War in Iraq

 

On War: Eight Years of War in Iraq   It was a day like any other day — except that it will be the eight anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And, for the most part, that was forgotten. The Second Front: War in Afghanistan The Afghan war hit another grim milestone today: it has now lasted the same amount of time as the Soviet war in Afghanistan.   9 years and 50 days ago, the U.S. and its Afghan allies began a quick rout of the Taliban government. The war was supposed to last only a few months, or perhaps a few years; it wasn't supposed to be all that difficult. It took the Soviets 9 years and 50 days to abandon Afghanistan after their invasion. On Dec. 27, 1979, 80,000 soldiers arrived; on Feb. 15, 1989, the last one walked home over a bridge. The Soviets believed they were leaving behind a functional, loyal government and sufficiently strong army to hold the country together. But the 250,000 mujahedeen that the Americans, Pakistanis, and Saudis helped fund and train proved too hard to handle, and the rest of the story we all know. Tomorrow, the U.S. war in Afghanistan will officially be longer than the Soviet's, but the day will pass just like any other day. The U.S. and its allies have committed to 4 more years of robust military presence. There is little talk of withdrawing in any meaningful way next summer. The U.S. military hopes that by committing to Afghanistan through 2014 (and beyond, in a lesser capacity), Afghans will trust that they won't be abandoned -- and therefore throw their lot in with the U.S., instead of sitting on the fence and waiting to choose the winning side. But the Taliban is really good at waging a guerilla war: they abandon ground when an overwhelming enemy arrives, and they still terrorize the population they've just left behind. And huge parts of the Afghan countryside remain uncontrolled -- vacuums of governance in which insurgents, criminals, and militias rule the day. And until that ends, Afghans will remain doubtful the U.S. can win, and therefore the Taliban's often-quoted saying remains true -- regardless of the U.S. end-date: "You may have all the watches, but we have all the time." Ever since man realized that there was power, money and religion, there has been war. From the earliest times until today, countries have fought over land, power and myth with their soldiers at the frontier. The same is true of modern-day America and the thousands of soldiers who have died in action or are still fighting in Afghanistan. These soldiers leave their families, jobs and all other securities behind to protect their country. Does this make them the ultimate real American hero? First, we must answer the question of what a hero truly is, since it's being overused in modern times. Hopefully we can agree that a hero, a true American hero, is someone who fights for what he believes in and protect those he loves; someone who wants to make the world a better place. While we can't pick every American soldier's head for reasons he enlisted and is now fighting in a deadly war, many families and friends believe these soldiers are doing it for the reasons listed above - to protect their loved ones, their country and their pride. There are Facebook pages spurring American troops on and online charities that help by sending food, medicinal provisions and clothing to war. But it's not a universal truth. More than one blogger has asked the question of whether it's a good thing to call soldiers heroes - to make war a heroic act. The reason many ask this is because so much of what war is seems to be forgotten in the process of calling the soldiers American heroes. The facts of death, bloodshed, unfairness, tyranny and the suffering of the innocent goes to waste with this romanticizing of war and those partaking in it. Whatever the case may be there are certainly a lot of real American heroes among the troops out there. Soldiers die for lots of reasons. They die to save a friend; they die to save an innocent stranger, they die when they refusing to give out information that might endanger their country. They die in battle to protect all they love. So we ask the thought-provoking question, do you choose to call the soldiers out there heroes?  Whatever you decide, the fact that they are partaking in the deathly act of war should never be forgotten. Never should a soldier be made off as an American hero when he has seen things so ghastly he does not feel like one. A soldier never forgets the things he saw or the things that he had to do to get out safe. We should never ask them to forget.  But what we must do is thank him or her for their service and what they have done for your country, pat him on the back and support them. Thus far, the war in Iraq has cost over $740,000,000,000 -- but the cumulative cost could be between two and three trillion dollars.  The war has caused the death of over 4,400 American troops, and left more than 31,000 wounded. Wikeleaks Exposed Bush 1 approved Saddam ‘s invasion of Iraq, then turned tables and made Saddam a neo Hitler. Ron Paul addressed congress about this crime and the start of the 20 years war.

Lost & Unaccounted for in Iraq - $9 billion of US taxpayers' money and $549.7 milion in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors. Also, per ABC News, 190,000 guns, including 110,000 AK-47 rifles. Missing - $1 billion in tractor trailers, tank recovery vehicles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and other equipment and services provided to the Iraqi security forces. (Per CBS News on Dec 6, 2007.) Mismanaged & Wasted in Iraq - $10 billion, per Feb 2007 Congressional hearings Halliburton Overcharges Classified by the Pentagon as Unreasonable and Unsupported - $1.4 billion Amount paid to KBR, a former Halliburton division, to supply U.S. military in Iraq with food, fuel, housing and other items - $20 billion Portion of the $20 billion paid to KBR that Pentagon auditors deem "questionable or supportable" - $3.2 billion U.S. 2009 Monthly Spending in Iraq - $7.3 billion as of Oct 2009 U.S. 2008 Monthly Spending in Iraq - $12 billion U.S. Spending per Second - $5,000 in 2008 (per Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on May 5, 2008) Cost of deploying one U.S. soldier for one year in Iraq - $390,000 (Congressional Research Service) TROOPS IN IRAQ Troops in Iraq - Total 48,000 U.S. troops as of Nov 30, 2010. All other nations have withdrawn their troops. U.S. Troop Casualties - 4,433 US troops; 98% male. 91% non-officers; 82% active duty, 11% National Guard; 74% Caucasian, 9% African-American, 11% Latino. 19% killed by non-hostile causes. 54% of US casualties were under 25 years old. 72% were from the US Army Non-U.S. Troop Casualties - Total 316, with 179 from the UK US Troops Wounded - 32,006, 20% of which are serious brain or spinal injuries. (Total excludes psychological injuries.) US Troops with Serious Mental Health Problems - 30% of US troops develop serious mental health problems within 3 to 4 months of returning home US Military Helicopters Downed in Iraq - 75 total, at least 36 by enemy fire IRAQI TROOPS, CIVILIANS & OTHERS IN IRAQ Private Contractors in Iraq, Working in Support of US Army Troops - More than 180,000 in August 2007, per The Nation/LA Times. Journalists killed - 145, 97 by murder and 47 by acts of war Journalists killed by US Forces - 14 Iraqi Police and Soldiers Killed - 9,818 Iraqi Civilians Killed, Estimated - On October 22, 2010, ABC News reported "a secret U.S. government tally that puts the Iraqi (civilian) death toll over 100,000," information that was included in more than 400,000 military documents released by Wikileaks.com. A UN issued report dated Sept 20, 2006 stating that Iraqi civilian casualties have been significantly under-reported. Casualties are reported at 50,000 to over 100,000, but may be much higher. Some informed estimates place Iraqi civilian casualities at over 600,000. Iraqi Insurgents Killed, Roughly Estimated - 55,000 Non-Iraqi Contractors and Civilian Workers Killed - 572 Non-Iraqi Kidnapped - 306, including 57 killed, 147 released, 4 escaped, 6 rescued and 89 status unknown. Daily Insurgent Attacks, Feb 2004 - 14 Daily Insurgent Attacks, July 2005 - 70 Daily Insurgent Attacks, May 2007 - 163 Estimated Insurgency Strength, Nov 2003 - 15,000 Estimated Insurgency Strength, Oct 2006 - 20,000 - 30,000 Estimated Insurgency Strength, June 2007 - 70,000 QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS Iraqis Displaced Inside Iraq, by Iraq War, as of May 2007 - 2,255,000 Iraqi Refugees in Syria & Jordan - 2.1 million to 2.25 million Iraqi Unemployment Rate - 27 to 60%, where curfew not in effect Consumer Price Inflation in 2006 - 50% Iraqi Children Suffering from Chronic Malnutrition - 28% in June 2007 (Per CNN.com, July 30, 2007) Percent of professionals who have left Iraq since 2003 - 40% Iraqi Physicians Before 2003 Invasion - 34,000 Iraqi Physicians Who Have Left Iraq Since 2005 Invasion - 12,000 Iraqi Physicians Murdered Since 2003 Invasion - 2,000 Average Daily Hours Iraqi Homes Have Electricity - 1 to 2 hours, per Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (Per Los Angeles Times, July 27, 2007) Average Daily Hours Iraqi Homes Have Electricity - 10.9 in May 2007 Average Daily Hours Baghdad Homes Have Electricity - 5.6 in May 2007 Pre-War Daily Hours Baghdad Homes Have Electricity - 16 to 24 Number of Iraqi Homes Connected to Sewer Systems - 37% Iraqis without access to adequate water supplies - 70% (Per CNN.com, July 30, 2007) Water Treatment Plants Rehabilitated - 22% RESULTS OF POLL Taken in Iraq in August 2005 by the British Ministry of Defense (Source: Brookings Institute) Iraqis "strongly opposed to presence of coalition troops - 82% Iraqis who believe Coalition forces are responsible for any improvement in security - less than 1% Iraqis who feel less ecure because of the occupation - 67% Iraqis who do not have confidence in multi-national forces - 72% It’s not that the average American isn’t aware that we still have tens of thousands or troops in Iraq, or that nearly 4,400 U.S. military personnel have died there since the war began. Scattered demonstrations were scheduled around the country to call for the troops’ swift return. But with so much else going on — a torpid economy, a climactic debate over health care reform, a mounting conflict in Afghanistan — it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that Americans are still fighting and dying in  Iraq.

 

The loss of our young are reflected in the pictures posted below, needless to say were the responsibilities of the old people who decided on waging wars. Among those buried at the cemetery are troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well service members from past conflicts dating back to the Civil War.

1

A member of the Marine Corps honor guard holds an American flag during bural services for Sgt. Justin Walsh, United States Marine Corps, at Arlington National Cemetery October 24, 2006 in Arlington, Virginia. Sgt. Walsh, from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was wounded while defusing a bomb in Iraq and later died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. More U.S. troops have died in Iraq in October than in any other month of the year. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

2

Mary McHugh mourns her slain fiance Sgt. James Regan at "Section 60" of the Arlington National Cemetery May 27, 2007. Regan, a US Army Ranger, was killed by an IED explosion in Iraq in February of this year, and this was the first time McHugh had visited the grave since the funeral. Section 60, the newest portion of the vast national cemetery on the outskirts of Washington D.C, contains hundreds of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Family members of slain American soldiers have flown in from across the country for Memorial Day. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) #

3

Members of the Honor Guard ready themselves next to the gravesite for a burial service for Army Spc. Camy Florexil at Arlington National Cemetery October 5, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. Spc. Florexil, 20, of Philadelphia, died July 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

4

Military veteran Benjamin Troy salutes at a gravesite in section 60 on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery May 28, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. This section of the cemetery is where U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and the Afghanistan war are buried. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) #

5

Nine-year-old MarcAnthony Davis rests his head on the American flag that covered his father's casket during burial services for Master Sgt. Anthony Davis at Arlington National Cemetery December 9, 2008 in Arlington, Virginia. Master Sgt. Anthony Davis, 43, of Deerfield, Florida, died November 25 in Baaj, Iraq, after being shot by an Iraqi Security Force soldier while he was conducting a dismounted humanitarian food drop. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

6

Veterans and family members of slain American soldiers pay their respects during the playing of "Amazing Grace" in "Section 60" of the Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day May 28, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. Section 60, the newest burial area in the vast military cemetery on the outskirts of the capital, is reserved for soldiers who died in the Iraq and Afghan wars. At an annual speech at the cemetery, President George Bush paid tribute to fallen American soldiers, telling family members that Americans "will never forget the terrible loss you have suffered." More than 300,000 veterans and their dependants are buried at the cemetery. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) #

7

A caisson team at Arlington National Cemetery returns to Fort Myer during the first snowfall of the year December 5, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. The greater Washington, DC area was expected to get up to 3 inches of snow. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

8

A red lipstick mark is covered with snow on the tombstone of Douglas E. Sloan at Arlington National Cemetery during the first snowfall of the year December 5, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. Sloan was killed in "Operation Enduring Freedom." The greater Washington, DC area was expected to get up to 3 inches of snow. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

9

Crystal Lewis (R) and her daughter Morgan Lewis sit at the gravesite of Morgan's high school sweetheart, U.S. Marine Nicholas Cain Kirven, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005, on Memorial Day at section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery May 28, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. This section of the cemetery is where U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and the Afghanistan war are buried. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) #

10

U.S. Marine Honor Guard bugler plays taps during an interment funeral ceremony for U.S. Marine Cp.l Mark David Kidd, of Milford, Michigan, at Arlington National Cemetery August 14, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. Kidd who was killed at a checkpoint in the Al Anbar province of Iraq last January, was buried at Arlington after being interred and then exhumed in his home state of Michigan. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) #

11

Stones painted with thoughts from friends and family and colored glass sit atop a headstone in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery March 24, 2008 in Arlington, Virginia. A new milestone was reached yesterday as more than 4,000 U.S. troops have been killed in the war in Iraq. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

12

Nine-year-old MarcAnthony Davis (R) is hugged by his mother, Maj. Anna Davis, during burial services for Master Sgt. Anthony Davis at Arlington National Cemetery December 9, 2008 in Arlington, Virginia. Master Sgt. Anthony Davis, 43, of Deerfield, Florida, died November 25 in Baaj, Iraq, after being shot by an Iraqi Security Force soldier while he was conducting a dismounted humanitarian food drop. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

13

U.S. Army Capt. Ed Arntson of Chicago, Illinois kisses the grave of Staff Sgt. Henry Linck, who was killed in Iraq in 2006, in Arlington National Cemetery May 21, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. It took 1,300 soldiers, sailors and Marines about three hours to place a flag at each of the more than 300,000 gravestones at Arlington ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

14

A soldier sits at a grave in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery May 25, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. Section 60 is one of the main places where those who died while serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images) #

15

Rebecca Baldeosingh reaches out to touch the casket of her husband, Sgt. Juan Carlos Baldeosingh, accompanied by her daughters (L-R) Kylie, Emily and Isabella at the conclusion of burial services at Arlington National Cemetery August 4, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. Baldeosingh and three fellow North Carolina soldiers died late last month when a roadside bomb hit their Humvee in Iraq. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

16

Soldiers from the 3rd US Infantry stand at attention over a casket during the group burial service for Army Chief Warrant Officer Matthew G. Kelley, Chief Warrant Officer Joshua M. Tillery, Chief Warrant Officer Benjamin H. Todd, and Chief Warrant Officer Phillip E. Windorskion on March 18, 2010 at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia. The four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom died from wounds suffered when two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters crashed January 26 in Kirkuk, Iraq. They were assigned to the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. AFP PHOTO / Tim Sloan #

17

LyVonne Lightfoot (C) holds a folded American flag while sitting next to her son U.S. Army Spc. Anthony M. Lightfoot's casket during his burial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery August 4, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. Assigned to the 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Spc. Lightfoot, 20, of Riverdale, Georgia, joined the Army in January 2008. Spc. Lightfoot and three other soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb followed by a small arms and rocket-propelled grenade attack in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

18

A sentinel from the elite 3rd US Infantry marches as the sun rises above the Tomb of the Unknowns on August 26, 2009 at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. US Senator Ted Kennedy will be buried near his brothers, former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, on August 29, 2009 at Arlington National Cemetery. AFP PHOTO / Tim Sloan #

19

A caisson team carries the casket of U.S. Army Spc. Stephen Mace during burial services at Arlington National Cemetery October 19, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. Mace was killed October 3 along with seven other U.S. soldiers in the Nuristan province of Afghanistan. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

20

Sheryl McIlvaine, widow of USMC Sgt. James McIlvaine, touches his gravestone while visiting Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery during the burial service for Spc. Stephen Mace October 19, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. McIlvaine and Mace were both from the Purcellville, Virginia area. McIlvaine was killed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in April 2009, and Mace was killed October 3, 2009 along with seven other U.S. soldiers in the Nuristan province of Afghanistan. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

21

Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also called "The Old Guard," conduct military honors during the burial ceremony for U.S. Army Specialist Gary Gooch at Arlington National Cemetery December 10, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. Gooch, 22, of Ocala, Florida, was killed November 5 when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

22

Sarah Walton hugs the tombstone of her husband, Lt. Col. James Walton, at Arlington National Cemetery after placing a Christmas wreath at his graveside December 12, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. More than 15,000 wreaths were placed at Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Wreaths Across America project. Walton was killed while serving in Afghanistan. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

23

Newly fallen snow covers half buried headstones at Arlington National Cemetery February 11, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. The nation's capital is beginning to dig out from a second major snowstorm to hit the area in the past week. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

24

Flag presenter Maj. Gen. Alan W. Thrasher (C) passes two members of an honor guard detailed to a group burial for soldiers killed in Iraq at Arlington National Cemetery September 13, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. Army PFC David Neil Simmons, Army Staff Sgt. Harrison Brown, and Army PFC Todd Singleton were killed in Iraq in April and their remains were unidentifiable following an explosion, leading to the group burial. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

25

A member of an honor guard team salutes the remains of four U.S. soldiers, who died in a helicopter crash in Iraq in 2009, during a group burial service at Arlington National Cemetery March 18, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. Family and friends attended the service for Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Kelley, Chief Warrant Officer Joshua Tillery, Chief Warrant Officer Benjamin Todd and Chief Warrant Officer Phillip Windorski. The four soldiers were assigned to the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y., at the time of their deaths on Jan. 29, 2009. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

26

Snow covered headstones are seen at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on December 22, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB #

27

Mourners watch as an American flag is folded over the casket of U.S. Marine Cpl. Nicolas Paradarodriguez, during a funeral service at Arlington Cemetery on May 27, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. Cpl. Paradarodriguez of Stafford, Virginia was killed while supporting combat operations in the Helmut Province of Afghanistan. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) #

28

Alvin Amezquite and his wife Erika Amezquita of New York City embrace at the grave of their friend U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christian Philip Engeldrum on Memorial Day in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery May 31, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. Amezquite and Engeldrum served together in the National Guard and were friends for more than 12 years. This is the 142nd Memorial Day observance at the cemetery. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

29

Teresa Dutcher, of Hooper, Utah, sits in front of the grave of her son, Cpl. Michael Pursel, during burial services for Army 2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon at Arlington National Cemetery November 16, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. On March 24, 2008, four soldiers were killed when their patrol vehical was blown up by a bomb in Baghdad, this takes the US military personnel death toll in Iraq passed 4000. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

30

Members of the firing party at the funeral service for U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Nicholas L. Ziolkowski fire their rifles at the conclusion of services at Arlington National Cemetery November 24, 2004 in Arlington, Virginia. Ziolkowski died November 15 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) #

31

A young woman lays down on the grave of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Noah Pier on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery May 31, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. Pier was killed Feburary 12, 2010 in Marja, Afghanistan. This is the 142nd Memorial Day observance at the cemetery. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

32

A camouflage plush teddy bear rests on top of a grave marker on Memorial Day in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery May 31, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. This is the 142nd Memorial Day observance at the cemetery. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

33

(L-R) Courtney Creech, Ron Creech and Nicole Hitzges cry as they walk by the coffin of their relative U.S. Army Sergeant Chad Keith during his funeral August 1, 2003 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Keith, 21, of Batesville, Indiana was killed July 7, 2003 when a roadside bomb exploded as his unit was patrolling Baghdad, Iraq. Keith was a gunner with Company D, 2nd Battalion of the 325th Infantry, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) #

34

U.S. Army Sgt. Brian Scott touches the grave marker of his friend and gunner Army Specialist Michael Luis Gonzales on Memorial Day in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery May 31, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. Gonzales was killed August 28, 2008, in Iraq by a roadside bomb that severly injured Scott. This is the 142nd Memorial Day observance at the cemetery. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

35

US Army Chaplain Lt. Col. James "Dusty" Gray leads the funeral procession for Army 1st Lt. Mark Harold Dooley during his burial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery July 13, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. A member of the Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 42nd Infantry Division, Dooley died in Ramadi, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during patrol operations on September 19, 2005. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

36

(L-R) Maj. Gen. Sean Byrne presents a folded U.S. flag to Christy Kirkpatrick, wife of Sgt. Scott Lange Kirkpatrick, and Scott's parents, Martha and Edward Kirkpatrick, at Arlington National Cemetery August 23, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Sgt. Kirkpatrick was killed August 11 during combat in Arab Jabour, Iraq. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

37

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders stand by during graveside services for U.S. Army Sgt. Scott Lange Kirkpatrick's graveside ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery August 23, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Kirkpatrick was killed August 11 during combat in Arab Jabour, Iraq. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) #

38

A US Army Honor Guard Casket Team folds the US flag over the casket of US Army Cpl. Luke Runyan during funeral services in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on March 10, 2008. Runyan, of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, was killed on February 17 in Iraq's restive Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, by small arms fire. AFP PHOTO/Paul J. RICHARDS #

39

Bugler Army Sgt. Major Woodrow English plays taps during burial ceremony form Senator ted Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery, August 29, 2009. The final resting place of American heroes opened its gates Saturday to embrace one more, as Edward Kennedy was buried near his two slain brothers while thousands publicly mourned. Former President John F. Kennedy gravesite is at the lower right corner. AFP PHOTO/POOL/Richard A. LIPSKI #

40

The Old Guard casket team escorts the cassion to the grave site during the burial service for Leonard B. Keller, a Medal of Honor recipient on November 30, 2009 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virgina. Keller received his Medal of Honor Citation for action in Ap Bac Zone, Republic of Vietnam, May 2, 1967 for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. AFP PHOTO / Tim Sloan #

41

Sarah Walton hugs the tombstone of her husband Lt. Col. James Walton, who was killed in Afghanistan, after placing a wreath on it at Arlington National Cemetery on December 12, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. Some 15,000 holiday wreaths were placed on tombstones as part of the Wreaths Across America project. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM #

42

Bugler, Seargent Major Dennis Edelbrock of the US Army Band plays taps during burial services for US Army Sergeant Daniel Frazier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on December 22, 2009. Frazier, 25, from St. Joseph, Michigan, was killed November 19 in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, from injuries caused by a suicide car-bomb attack on his unit. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB #

43

ARLINGTON, VA - JUNE 18: Members of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Regiment ?Old Guard? Caisson Platoon at Ft. Myer, travel to a site where the cremated remains of a U.S. military veteran will be transferred onto the caisson before a funeral service at Arlington Cemetery, June 18, 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. The remains will be placed in a drawer in the casket for the procession to the interment site. Most of the full honor funerals at Arlington Cemetery consist of six horses pulling a black artillery caisson converted with a flat deck to accommodate a casket. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) #

44

As Mexican President Felipe Calderon(not seen) places a wreath at the foot of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, US Army Private First Class Ajyma Lange, a member of The Old Guard?s Continental Color Guard endures the heat as he carries the Army flag with battle streamers May 20, 2010, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virgina, close to Washington, DC. AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards #