Where Curiosity Finds Its Home

Memorial Day tributes take on different meanings for families who know the true meaning of the day. Not every family has gone through the experience of having a loved one never return from defending their country. Those who do take a completely different approach to Memorial Day.

Since Memorial Day is a national holiday in the United States, many people use the time to get out of town for fun and relaxation. Approximately 39.4 million Americans are projected to travel by car. This represents about 87{b50e579472ba6237cc2afd49b9e83e1b20d9950a80f5f77cf5ee18615aa1e858} of all Memorial Day travelers, making road trips the overwhelmingly preferred mode of transportation. This is an increase of one million drivers compared to last year, and is attributed in part to relatively lower gas prices this spring. The busiest day for car rentals is expected to be Friday, May 23, with SUVs being especially popular among renters. Major cities with the highest rental demand include Orlando, Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, and Seattle. AAA Newsroom

Air travel is projected to see 3.61 million passengers over the holiday weekend, a nearly 2{b50e579472ba6237cc2afd49b9e83e1b20d9950a80f5f77cf5ee18615aa1e858} increase from last year. While this does not set an all-time record, it does surpass pre-pandemic levels by about 12{b50e579472ba6237cc2afd49b9e83e1b20d9950a80f5f77cf5ee18615aa1e858}. The average roundtrip domestic airfare is around $850, and the most popular destinations include Chicago, New York, Orlando, Denver, and Seattle. AAA Newsroom

A combined total of 2.08 million people are expected to travel by train, bus, or cruise. This category has grown by 8.5{b50e579472ba6237cc2afd49b9e83e1b20d9950a80f5f77cf5ee18615aa1e858} over last year and now exceeds pre-pandemic numbers from 2018 and 2019, though it remains below the record highs of the early 2000s. The data does not break out train and bus separately, but both are included in this “other modes” category along with cruises. AAA Newsroom NBC Philadelphia

Memorial Day, however, reminds me that two of my first cousins died in Viet Nam

He was a casualty of the Vietnam War on December 12, 1963. He is honored and remembered by the people of Georgia.

SERVICE OVERVIEW

Name	Newman Ray Nesmith
Date Born	October 27, 1943
From	Screven County, Georgia
War	Vietnam War
Service Branch	US Army
Rank	Private First Class
Specialty	Helicopter Repairer
Service Group	1st Logistical Command, 611th Transportation Company
Date Death	December 12, 1963
Cause of Death	Hostile, Killed in Action
Notable Awards	★ Purple Heart

He was a casualty of the Vietnam War on January 10, 1966. He is honored and remembered by the people of Florida.

SERVICE OVERVIEW

Name	Jerry Nelson Hughes
Date Born	January 12, 1945
From	Miami-Dade County, Florida
War	Vietnam War
Service Branch	US Army
Rank	Private First Class
Specialty	Light Weapons Infantry
Service Group	173rd Airborne Brigade, 17th Cavalry, E Troop
MIA Status	Declared Dead while Missing
Date Death	January 10, 1966
Cause of Death	Hostile, Killed in Action
Notable Awards	★ Purple Heart

Here is the breakdown of American veterans who died during these conflicts.

American Revolutionary War (1775–1783):
About 4,435 deaths Source NBC Washington

War of 1812 (1812–1815):
About 2,260 deaths Source NBC Washington

Mexican-American War (1846–1848):
13,283 deaths Source Statista

American Civil War (1861–1865):
Estimated 620,000 deaths (some estimates as high as 750,000) Source Statista

Spanish-American War (1898):
2,446 deaths Source Statista

World War I (1917–1918):
116,516 deaths Source Statista

World War II (1941–1945):
405,399 deaths Source Statista

Korean War (1950–1953):
36,516 deaths Source Statista

Vietnam War (1965–1973):
58,209 deaths Source Statista

Gulf War (1990–1991):
258 deaths Source Statista

War on Terror (2001–present):
7,078 deaths (includes Iraq and Afghanistan) Source Statista

• Operation Iraqi Freedom: 4,431
• Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan): 2,354
• Operation Inherent Resolve: 111
• Operation Freedom’s Sentinel: 109
• Operation New Dawn: 74

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