Each year, the Memorial Day federal holiday honors the men and women who died while serving in this country’s armed forces.

This year, while honoring those who in past wars lost their lives, the holiday’s 2026 “version” is grasping the unwanted reality of having to honor brave military personnel killed during the current Iran war operations.

And, in the days, weeks and months ahead, there is no guarantee that others’ lives will not be claimed during whatever other operations or defenses might be deemed necessary.

The lives of many hundreds of thousands of American troops were snuffed out in past conflicts; the only hope now should be that the Iran war’s toll will, in the end, not be heavy.

Washington has been less than forthcoming so far about this country’s Iran war death toll, but many Americans want to be apprised of that number, and they have a right to know.

They also have the right to be given periodic official updates, and members of Congress, regardless of their political affiliation, should consider it an obligation on their part to demand the numbers so they can report them to their constituents.

As noted above, Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in this country’s armed forces. This holiday must not be confused with Veterans Day, which on Nov. 11 honors all honorably discharged U.S. military veterans, whether or not they died while in this country’s service.

Over the decades, Memorial Day, initially celebrated as Decoration Day, also evolved into a holiday in which Americans now honor their deceased family members and friends by visiting cemeteries and placing flowers, wreaths or whatever on their graves.

Leading up to this holiday, it can only be speculated about how many financially hard-pressed people living away from this area will forgo their annual practice of making the trip here because of the price of gasoline edging upward toward $5 a gallon. Similarly, it can only be speculated how many locals will forgo their annual trip to other locales for the same reason.

A similar high-price situation also is encompassing air travel.

Then there is the issue of inflation itself. Earlier this month, news articles in newspapers and reports from other sources shared the unwelcome reality that consumer prices rose 3.8% in April from what they were in April 2025.

President Donald Trump announced on May 11 his support for suspending the federal gasoline tax, but pausing the 18-cent-per-gallon tax doesn’t portend windfall savings when the price of gasoline has increased to about $4.50 a gallon, when a year ago it was about $3.14.

The Wall Street Journal, which reported recently that even many well-to-do Americans were switching some of their buying habits to discount retailers, also has reported on Wall Street’s growing anxiety regarding inflation.

The Journal used the word “intensifying” to describe that growing anxiety.

Still, many American families who cling to the traditional belief that Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the summer picnicking and vacation season will again embark on their traditional activities, if they can afford them.

Additionally, in addition to visiting cemeteries when and where possible, many Americans will consider it their duty to attend a Memorial Day parade and other patriotic activities as a sign of their loyalty to this country.

This might be a different Memorial Day for many Americans, even during this year celebrating 250 years since this nation’s founding, but all should keep in mind the holiday’s true meaning.