Not in vain

“ ... that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

-From The Gettysburg Address by President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 19, 1863

Whenever our soldiers are sent into battle, we know that some will not come back. And that Americans will argue among themselves and with our politicians as to whether those who perished served a just cause.

Those arguments are painful but important. We shudder to think of living in a nation where such freedom of debate is squelched or forbidden.

We also believe that no man or woman who commits to serving his or her country ever dies in vain. All of us are forever indebted to them.

On this Memorial Day weekend, our country remains at war overseas - one winding down in Iraq, hopefully toward some lasting kind of new peace and more democratic, stable leadership - while we still are fiercely engaged in Afghanistan's complicated political, geographical and cultural terrain. A total of about 6,000 U.S. soldiers have died in those wars since 2003.

Iowans' presence in both theaters has been substantial, although Iowa National Guard troop numbers there have dropped to fewer than 100. That will change soon for thousands more Iowa families. The Iowa National Guard is preparing for what is likely to be its largest deployment since World War II. The Guard's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, about 3,000 Iowans plus about 600 from the Nebraska National Guard, is expected to be activated in late July for a yearlong deployment, including about nine months in Afghanistan.

Not all missions are aimed at combat or training Afghan and Iraqi soldiers and police. For example, a group of Iowa National Guard airmen and soldiers will join a project in August to help re-establish a local agriculture economy and economic stability to a section of that country.

As political debate continues, we must remember our soldiers, who deal with the consequences of politicians' decisions every day. And for those troops who don't return, we must always honor and remember their sacrifice on our behalf.