Since the war for independence from Great Britain 232 years ago, almost 1.5 million Americans have died in wars and skirmishes: the American Revolution, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Iraq War. Spread over the life of the United States, that’s equal to 6,465 military deaths a year.

More than 50 soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines with local ties have served in the Iraq War. Since the war began in 2003, more than 4,000 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq (for a complete list of all confirmed civilian, contractor and military casualties, see www.icasualties.org).

Soldiers with San Juan County ties who have been killed in action or injured include:

Marine Pvt. 1st Class Cody Calavan, grandson of Shaw islanders, was killed in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, May 29, 2004.

Corporal James Edward Lundin, the nephew of Jim and Val Hellar of Orcas Island, and the grandson of Mick and Claire Hellar of Waldron Island, was killed in action May 30, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was 20 years old. The Lundin family lived on Orcas from 1989-2000 when James attended Orcas Montessori School and Orcas Elementary and Middle School. Val Hellar said, “He was an amazing young man, and very close to his cousins – the five cousins all spent glorious summers on Waldron.”

All war casualties may serve for different reasons, but they all had ambitions and dreams and families.

They may not have agreed with the purpose for war, but they went — willing to sacrifice their comforts and their lives for the nation’s cause.

Today, U.S. forces are in a war that is so controversial it may help determine the outcome of the November election. While opponents question our nation’s motives for going to war in Iraq, none question the dedication and devotion of those serve — and have died — in the name of the United States.

At this time, the week of Memorial Day, we again honor those who have given their lives. And we pray for resolution, restoration and healing in Iraq and for the safe return of our military personnel there.

On Orcas Island, several events are occurring to bring the Iraqi War and its affects to the public consciousness. It may seem like very little, but it is something we can do to inform ourselves and to honor those who have fallen in the course of the war.

Gerri Haynes will be speaking on “Iraq Today,” Sunday, June 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Orcas Senior Center. Haynes has made annual trips to the Middle East since 1993, organizing and leading citizen diplomacy trips to Israel and to Iraq. Her presentation will include a slide show and personal stories. For more information contact Rena Patty at 376-6864.

Orcas Islander Dubi Izaakson provided the following websites for those interested in local, state and national support and remembrance organizations:

Operation Support Our Troops: www.operation-support-our-troops.org/. For tributes to “Our Fallen Heroes From Washington State” click on: “Fallen Heroes”; for the Wall of Honor of Washington State Troops, click on “Washington Wall of Honor; for a link to all the organizations through whom people can support service persons, click on Links.

Izaakson says, “’Fallen Heroes’ provides funds to help support and educate the children of American service members lost during Operation Iraqi Freedom.”

In addition, there are a couple of ways you can let military personnel know you care:

• On Orcas Island, Judy Wallace, an American Legion member and wife of Ron Wallace, Vietnam Vet, has been spearheading the collection and shipment of items to Iraq through the American Legion Post 93 on Crescent Beach Road. The public is invited to drop donations at the Legion, and for questions to call Judi Resch at 376-4069. Legion members contribute to shipping.

• On San Juan Island, the American Legion Auxiliary collects items for care packages the first Saturday of every month at Friday Harbor MarketPlace. There are currently eight military personnel on the list. To add a name from any county island, call Minnie Knych, 378-4662.

Money for postage and food items is collected on the first Saturday monthly at Market Place, and then boxes are packed the following Wednesday.

• Rebecca Mason of Shaw Island is organizing supplies for Iraqis caught up in the war to be distributed by U.S. Army troops. The project sends clothing (no names please) school supplies, baby formula and toys to Iraqi citizens in areas that have been blocked off by insurgents. The collection sites, arranged by the Young Builders Club, are inside the school entrances at Orcas Island Elementary and High Schools.

“I don’t think we can have too many donations,” said Rebecca. “Hopefully, we’ll raise enough money to pay to ship the donations to Iraq.” For further information, contact Rebecca at 468-4577.

For a complete list of items suitable for inclusion in care packages, go to www.islandssounder.com “Care Packages.”