Count the cost of freedom

As we sit in our comfortable homes in the most beautiful state of the union, enjoying the liberties that come with being an American and an Alaskan, we seldom are called to count the cost.

There is a high price for that which we hold dear. As is often said, freedom isn’t free.

Monday we mark Memorial Day — Decoration Day — an observance that dates back to the Civil War. It’s a day for flag flying, parades and solemnly remembering the sacrifices of men and women who throughout the course of U.S. history have given us the freedoms we enjoy today.

It’s easy to devalue freedom when we see no threats to it. Most of the time, we live in complacency, assured that our status quo will remain status quo. When we are shaken from our lethargy — by an event like Sept. 11, 2001, or even a spike in gas prices — we briefly rally in a rush of patriotism or nationalist fervor. Then, we sink back into taking our freedoms, our prosperity and our liberty for granted.

And, as is pointed out in an article in today’s issue, we take our children with us. Fewer and fewer children line the parade routes on their red, white and blue-decorated bikes and in festooned wagons. Unless a child has a parent in the military, he or she may not even understand the reason behind the day off work that has become a national barbecuing event.

Those who have paid the price in combat injury, death of a loved one or a life-changing battlefield experience know why we have Memorial Day. They know the costs:

Battle deaths of American service men and women

• American Revolution — 4,435.

• War of 1812 — 2,260.

• Indian Wars — estimated 1,000.

• Civil War (both North and South) — 214,939.

• Spanish American War — 385.

• World War I — 53,402.

• World War II — 291,557.

• Korean War — 33,741.

• Vietnam War — 47,424.

• Gulf War — 147.

• War on Terror — 3,760 (as of May 23).

To many of us, those are just grim numbers. But these numbers represent loved ones who sacrificed all for our life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the freedoms our Constitution guarantees.

So fire up the grill on Monday, but take time to honor our vets and those serving in the military today. Load up the kids and head to the parade in Wasilla. Go to the Veterans’ Wall of Honor and reflect on what freedom means, and what it costs.

And say a prayer that our men and women in the U.S. military today won’t become battle death statistics, but will return to march in Memorial Day parades, saluting the flag-waving children along the route.

Because truly, freedom isn’t free.