The Perils of Military Service and Sea Service

Happy Memorial Day 2026! I hope that you have had a fun, pleasant, and relaxing Memorial Day weekend. I hope that you have something fun planned for today. With that being said, I also hope that you take a moment today to remember the reason for the holiday.

Military service has always been perilous. When waging war is part of your job description, you are likely to find yourself in harm’s way. But not all military deaths happen as a result of facing the enemy. Military fatalities happen as a result of wartime and peacetime accidents. Training accidents can be particularly deadly given the need train for warfare in a realistic manner that will prepare warriors to fight and win. Then there is disease. The simple truth is that our service members put themselves at risk by putting on the uniform and living the life of a military man or woman.

Mr. Carl Herzog of the USS Constitution Museum has published a blog post on the deaths that occurred amongst those serving aboard the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat, USS Constitution. As you might expect for such a distinguished and historic warship, USS Constitution has had its share of casualties in wartime and peacetime. Maybe take a moment to read this article (click on the link below) and reflect upon the price that has been paid by our military officers, sailors, and marines in the sea service.

“Consigned to a Seaman’s Grave…”

https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/2019/05/07/consigned-to-a-seamans-grave/