Catholics are good at remembering--we do it every Sunday at Mass when we celebrate the Eucharist in memory of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. While we celebrate Memorial Day with a day off and cook outs that signal the beginning of the summer season, we also pause to remember the lives and deaths of soldiers who served this country.

After 10 year of fighting the War on Terror (see our 9/11 survey), it's important to remember that soldiers continue to give their lives--even if they do not die in battle. In his column this month, Patrick McCormick explores what it means to send our young men and women to war. As with the Eucharist, Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to offer our thanks, honor soldiers' lives, and strive to be a better country.