It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘kick-off to summer’ aspect of Memorial Day. It’s easy to lose sight of what this holiday is about. It’s not about picnics and BBQs and long weekends. It’s about remembering those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. In case you need a reminder of just how many people that is, here is a list of 47 service men and women who lost their lives while serving our nation in 2018 and so far in 2019.

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, please keep these Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, and their families in your thoughts.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Mihail Golin – Died January 1, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 34, of Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Spc. Javion S. Sullivan – Died January 8, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 24, of Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Sgt. Christina M. Schoenecker – Died February 19, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 26, of Arlington, Kansas.

Sgt. 1st Class Maitland D. Wilson – Died March 9, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 38, of Brooklyn, New York.

Capt. Christopher Zanetis – Died March 15, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 37, of Long Island City, New York.

Capt. Mark Weber – Died March 15, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 29, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso – Died March 15, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 39, of Commack, New York.

Master Sgt. William Posch – Died March 15, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 36, of Indialantic, Florida.

Capt. Andreas O’Keeffe – Died March 15, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 37, of Center Moriches.

Staff Sgt. Carl Enis – Died March 15, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 31, of Tallahassee, Florida.

Staff Sgt. Dashan Briggs – Died March 15, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 30, of Port Jefferson Station, New York.

Master Sgt. Jonathan J Dunbar – Died March 30, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 36, of Austin, Texas.

Army Spc. Gabriel Conde – Died April 30, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 22, of Loveland, Colorado.

Army Staff Sgt. Conrad Robinson – Died May 24, 2018 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom. 36, of Los Angeles.

Army Staff Sgt. Alexander Conrad – Died June 8, 2018 Serving During U.S. Africa Command Operations. 26, of Chandler, Arizona.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Matthew I. Holzemer – Died June 17, 2018 Serving During U.S. Africa Command Operations. 35, of Tennessee.

Army Cpl. Joseph Maciel – Died July 7, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 20, of South Gate, California.

Air Force Staff Sgt. James T. Grotjan – Died July 12, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 26, of Waterford, Connecticut.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz – Died July 12, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 32, of Summerville, South Carolina.

Sgt. 1st Class Reymund R. Transfiguracion – Died August 12, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 36, Waikoloa, Hawaii.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Taylor Galvin – Died August 20, 2018 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 34, of Spokane, Washington.

Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Bolyard – Died September 3, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 42, of Thonton, West Virginia.

Staff Sgt. Diobanjo Sanagustin – Died September 4, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 32, of National City, California.

Sgt. James Slape – Died October 4, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 23, of Morehead City, North Carolina.

Maj. Brent Taylor – Died November 3, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 39, of North Ogden, Utah.

Sgt. Leandro Jasso – Died November 24, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 25, of Leavenworth, Washington.

Capt. Andrew Patrick Ross – Died November 27, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 29, of Lexington, Virginia.

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Michael Emond – Died November 27, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 39, of Brush Prairie, Washington.

Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin – Died November 27, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 25, of Hookstown, Pennsylvania.

Sgt. Jason Mitchell McClary – Died December 2, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 24, of Export, Pennsylvania.

Pfc. Joshua Mikeasky – Died December 13, 2018 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 19, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Shannon Kent – Died January 16, 2019 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 35, of Pine Plains, New York.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Farmer – Died January 16, 2019 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 37, of Boynton Beach, Florida.

Sgt. Cameron Meddock – Died January 17, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 26, of Spearman, Texas.

Sgt. 1st Class Joshua ‘Zach’ Beale – Died January 22, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 32, of Carrollton, Virginia.

Spc. Jackson Johnson – Died March 7, 2019 Serving During Operation Spartan Shield. 20, of Hillsboro, Missouri.

Sgt. Holli Bolinski – Died March 7, 2019 Serving During Operation Spartan Shield. 37, of Pinkneyville, Ill.

Sgt. 1st Class Will D. Lindsay – Died March 22, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 33, of Cortez, Colorado.

Spc. Joseph P. Collette – Died March 22, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 29, of Lancaster, Ohio.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Slutman – Died April 8, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 43, of Newark, Delaware.

Sgt. Benjamin Hines – Died April 8, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 31, of York, Pennsylvania.

Cpl. Robert Hendriks – Died April 8, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 25, of Locust Valley, New York.

Staff Sgt. Albert J. Miller – Died April 19, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 24, of Richmond, New Hampshire.

Spc. Ryan Riley – Died April 20, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 22, of Richmond, Kentucky.

Spc. Michael T. Osario – Died April 23, 2019 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 20, of Horseshoe Bend, Idaho.

Pfc. Michael A. Thomason – Died April 29, 2019 Serving During Operation Inherent Resolve. 28, of Lincoln Park, Michigan.

Spc. Miguel Holmes – Died May 6, 2019 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. 22, of Hinesville, Georgia.

On a lighter note, please don’t forget to enter our Great American Cookout, Summer Prize Pack giveaway. Jimmy has all the details on page 2 and you’ll find the entry form there also. We have a great package to give away with everything you need to throw the ultimate summer BBQ! Good Luck!