Support the Soldier
(I recognize all those that have sacrificed)
Year(s): 2020-2021
Medium: Embroidery, thread, vintage USA flag purchased at the Church Street Surplus Supplies, 327 Church St, New York, NY 1001; the original USA Pledge of Allegiance written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931) USA Soldiers KIA in Wars Index created by using online government and statistic sources: American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics (Updated July 29, 2020), Congressional Research Service, https://crsreports.congress.gov RL32492; Department of Veteran Affairs: America’s Wars, https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf; US Department of Defense Casualty Status: Updated March 21, 2021, It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. Bellamy had hoped that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country. https://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm
Dimensions: 36 x 60 inches (91.44 x 152.4 cm)
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the
Republic for which it stands, one nation,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. Bellamy had hoped that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country. In its original form it read:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. At this time it read:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration. Today it reads:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
“On behalf of the President of the United States, (the United States Army; the United States Marine Corps; the United States Navy; the United States Air Force or the United States Coast Guard), and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.”
USA Soldiers KIA Index*
4,435
American Revolution
(1775-1785)
2,260
War of 1812
(1812-1815)
1,000*
Indian* Wars
(approx. 1817-1898)
13,283
Mexican-American War
(1846-1848)
364,511
Civil War
(1861-1865)
2,446
Spainish-American War
(1898-1902)
116,516
World War I
(1917-1918)
405,399
World War II
(1941-1945)
36,574
Korean War
(1950-1953)
58,220
Vietnam War
(1955-1975)
265
Lebanon Peacekeeping
(August 25, 1982-February 26, 1984)
Iranian Hostage Rescue Mission
(April 25, 1980)
19
Urgent Fury in Grenada
(1983)
383
Persian Gulf War
Desert Shield and Desert Storm
(1990-1991)
43
Restore Hope in Somalia
(1992-1994)
4,431
Uphold Democracy in Haiti
74
Operation Iraqi Freedom
(d)
2,352
Operation New Dawn
(hdfa)
101+
Operation Enduring Freedom
96+
Operation
*
For the Indian Wars I was unable to find remotely an accurate number that everyone agreed on, especially since originally Native American deaths were not counted, nor was any battles before 1776. I went by the Veteran’s number of 1,000, with an asterisk by it to signify that this number is not what it seems.
For the last wars/operations, Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom Sentinel, I have put plus signs (+) next to them to signify that these wars are still currently ongoing. For Vietnam War I consider November 1, 1955 the start date, because that is because in 1998 the Department of Defense decided for that date to the be the earliest qualifying date for inclusion of American combat deaths on the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
There are four operations that have been divided into two final KIA numbers. This is because from the information I was able to find online that was how the numbers were presented to me. Urgent Fury, Grenada aka the United States invasion of Grenada (October 25 – December 15, 1983) and Just Cause, Panama aka the United States invasion of Panama (December 20, 1989 – January 31, 1990) with a combined total of 19. Operation Restore Hope Somalia (December 5, 1992 – May 4, 1993) and Uphold Democracy in Haiti (September 19, 1994 – March 31, 1995) with a combined total of 43.