Lincoln embraced this obligation of the living to the dead in the eloquent words that form and frame the Gettysburg Address: "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

President Reagan embodied the tradition when he placed himself among the caskets of the 241 marines killed in Beirut, and gave voice to the nation’s sorrow when the Challenger was lost. For President Clinton, it was his appeal to the American people, in the words of St. Paul, to "let us not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good, in his tribute to the victims of the bombing at Oklahoma City.

But, it is President Bush who reclaimed the time-honored tradition by stating, "From Valley Forge to Vietnam, from Kuwait to Kandahar, from Berlin to Baghdad, brave men and women have given up their own futures so that others might have a future of freedom, he said. "Because of their sacrifice, millions here and around the world enjoy the blessings of liberty. And wherever these patriots rest, we offer them the respect and gratitude of our nation.

During wartime political conflict tends to divide our country, from the Civil War to Iraq, and Americans tend to neglect the memories of our own fallen soldiers. Citizens latch onto political debate and rhetoric, encouraging the dividing line to grow stronger and higher between brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends; all the while, our military losses are rising in number and graves are multiplying. Who cares for them? Who honors them? Have we, as Americans, become so selfish that we no longer honor our fallen?

Our country has spent over 200 years modeling after Roman ideals of democracy and citizenship; turning to great Roman orators for wisdom and inspiration, and yet we have lost sight of the basis for democracy. As Perciles' speech has been commented on, "It defined the obligations of citizens living in a democracy, to recognize and to take full measure of the sacrifices offered by the dead."

So, fellow reader, can you tell me if you have taken full measure of the sacrifices offered by our fallen military? Or, like Sheehan, do you use their names to cry out against the greatest thing they could ever give you-their life for your freedom?