For 235 years, American mothers, fathers, wives and husbands have been mourning the cost of the freedom we hold so dear.

Although we often don’t think about it, Americans have mourned their war dead since the spring of 1775 when the first colonists died after standing up for independence.

Today Americans are still dying for their country.

Ironically, more American soldiers have been killed in combat in America’s war on terror than were killed in the American Revolution.

But America didn’t make honoring its heroic dead an official holiday until after the Civil War.

This week, Americans gathered to celebrate and honor its fallen soldiers on Memorial Day. Honored soldiers ranged from our nation’s very earliest beginnings to deaths as recently as two weeks ago.

Attending Memorial Day celebrations such as the Miss-Lou’s tradition of crossing the Mississippi River is an important, public display of support. Real support for our troops, however, comes through the prayers, personal thanks and other layers of aid that common citizens can provide each and every day.

As long as Americans are risking — and sometimes losing — their lives for the sake of our freedom, Memorial Day should not just be a holiday in May; it should be a day of celebration and thanks, every single day of the year.