Remembering Our Veterans

As an American, I salute and support the men and women who have served and sacrificed for this country. I offer my deepest respect and thanks for those who put themselves daily in harm's way to uphold the Founding Father's ideals of tolerance, equality and pluralism.

As a Muslim on this day, I especially want to salute the over 20,000 Muslims (according to the "Crescents and Crosses" article mentioned below, who cites the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs Council for the figure; some other sources cite a range between just under 4,000 to about 12,000) serving in the U. S. military. Each of you, brothers and sisters, set a shining example in the current climate that the deepest, truest values of this country and our faith share a strong , compatible resonance, despite what "extremists" in both the American right or in Islam attempt to portray and perpetrate.

Some links:

Crescents Among The Crosses although two years old, this is still a great, moving post by Shahed Amanullah on Muslims who have died in service for America.

The American Muslim great blog and site by Robert Salaam, a military veteran and Muslim convert.

American Muslim Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs Council last updated in April.

Muslim Military Members "An organization providing information, communication, and coordination for Muslims in the US Armed Forces," per their web site. Also not updated since last year, at least publicly (there may be portions of the site accessible via verification of military status).

Muslims For A Safe America interesting advocacy group that "encourages honest and informed discussion about how to make Muslims and America safer." They put the range of Muslims in the U.S. military between 5,000 and 20 000.

Know of others? Share them here.