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Posted on Monday, May 30, 2011

Take the Time to Honor Our American Veteran’s on Memorial Day

Although to many Americans Memorial Day is a fun-filled weekend signifying the start of summer, Memorial Day is a significant day dedicated to American military men and women who have died in service to the U.S.  With so many soldiers fighting overseas now, Americans should make a special effort today to remember those in U.S history who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Among foreign wars, World War II was the deadliest for the U.S. with 405,399 lives lost. The number of U.S. military personnel killed in the Korean War was 33,686 and in the Vietnam War 58,209. Current U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan so far have claimed 6,013 American lives. 

Some US soldiers have successfully ended their military career only to be stricken with health issues later due to exposure to toxic materials.  Many veterans who returned home were subsequently lost to devastating diseases like mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos in the U.S. Navy and other branches of the military.

There was wide use of asbestos in military structures and ships between the 1940s and the 1970s.  Soldiers were exposed to asbestos in military buildings, including mess halls and barracks. Those who traveled and fought abroad may have been exposed on naval vessels, an area of the military that saw a high demand for asbestos use.

Due to the popularity of asbestos with the military, it has been estimated that nearly 30 percent of veterans who served between the 1940s and 1970s may have been exposed.  For those exposed to asbestos, many factors determine whether or not they will develop mesothelioma. These factors include how much exposure, how long the exposure lasted, the fiber type and how they were exposed to the mineral.   Age, sex, diet, family traits, lifestyle (including smoking choice), and general health are also determinants.

In February, the last surviving U.S. World War I veteran, Frank Buckles, died at the age of 110.  According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are about 2 million living U.S. veterans from World War II.