A precious gift that came with a heavy price

Veterans Day is often shortchanged when it comes to how important it is for us to be reminded of the toll it's taken for our nation to survive and retain the principals our forefathers envisioned.

For me, it's helpful to think of my friend Jim Berry, a retired Iowa City Realtor. Raised in the Fort Dodge and Churdan area, Jim is one of four brothers who served in the Navy during World War II and since then.

In World War II, Don Berry served on a destroyer escort ship and Thomas Berry flew a dive bomber. In the Korean War, Jim Berry was a combat photographer and Bob Berry was on the crew of long-range identity aircraft. In addition, Jim's son, Michael, is a Navy veteran and grandson, Shawn, is currently in the Navy Seabees. So when I think of our military veterans and how much we owe them, among my thoughts are Jim and his family.

The holiday we now observe as Veterans Day originated in 1919 when President Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. Then in 1954, nearly a decade after World War II, Congress amended it be Veterans Day to honor all the military veterans from all of our wars.

Today, as in years past, I'll make a special effort to remember and appreciate the millions of military men and women who put themselves in harm's way, and the hundreds of thousands who, as President Abraham Lincoln put it, gave their last full measure of devotion to protect our nation and our freedom.

Not only should we remember and honor those veterans, but because of their sacrifice, I believe we have a responsibility to make certain they did not die in vain.

With data obtained from the Washington Post and Reuters, here's a glimpse at the price paid by others so we can live, and work, and love in the United States of America:

' World War II (1941-45) - Estimated 420,000 USA military and civilians killed.

' Korean War (1950-53) - 54,229 USA military killed in action, 103,248 wounded, 8,142 missing in action.

' Vietnam War (1959-75) - 58,119 USA killed in action, 153,303 wounded, 1,948 missing in action.

' Ongoing Middle East conflicts (as of June 2011) - 6,632 USA killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And that represents only a portion of the cost in human suffering from those wars. The precious gift we now share was preserved at a heavy price. Please take time to remember. And if you believe in prayer, do it prayerfully.

' Bob Elliott lives in Iowa City. Comments: elliottb53@aol.com