Too Many Faces

In America, holidays like Memorial Day and Veteran's Day are too often viewed as simply a free day to sleep late and catch up on the yardwork. But in times of war, like now, the sacrifices American soldiers have made and are still making come into focus—especially when so many have died needlessly, sent abroad to fight for a lie. If you, like me, are one of those lucky enough not to have a close friend or family member in Iraq, it's even more important to take a minute today and consciously think about  the 1,656 American soldiers who have died—and the 180 dead from coalition countries. CNN has compiled a database —searchable by name and date of death—with photos and details about our casualties of war.

Views expressed on this page are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Campaign for America's Future or Institute for America's Future