At noon May 28, veterans and volunteers will gather at City Park in Bath for the 11th consecutive year to engage in a somber tribute.

The “We Remember” group, which shares its name with the weekly list of U.S. military casualties that this newspaper has published since 2001, will read the names of each U.S. military man and woman who died in service to our country during the previous 12 months. A bell will toll to honor each fallen hero.

While shorter than in some past years, the roster of U.S. fighting men and women killed in the line of duty since last Memorial Day approaches 400, more than one per day. Only a handful have direct connections to Maine, but that makes their deaths no less devastating, their stories no less poignant and their sacrifices no less heroic to us.

While it lacks the grandeur of a parade and the dramatic impact of honor guard salutes, the “We Remember” observance emphasizes the human tragedy of war. Affirming the individuality of each fallen fighter by enunciating his or her name in a public park makes war personal and translates Department of Defense statistics into human terms. These weren’t “troops” or “casualties,” they were sons, daughters, fathers, mothers and spouses.

The laudable efforts of the “We Remember” group become more challenging each year. The cumulative effect of almost 12 consecutive years of U.S. overseas military operations stretches the memorial effort to the limits of what’s practically and emotionally manageable.

As of Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that at least 1,843 members of the U.S military have died in Afghanistan since then President George W. Bush ordered an invasion of that country in search of al-Qaida operatives in late 2001. That count does not include 111 service members who died elsewhere “in support of Operation Enduring Freedom,” as the Associated Press describes it.

Adding those figures to at least 4,452 U.S. fighting men and women counted as casualties of military action that began in Iraq in March 2003 elevates the overall “We Remember” total to more than 6,400.

That’s a truly daunting figure.

Nevertheless, led by Woolwich resident Jack Albis, the intrepid “We Remember” volunteers remain committed to maintaining their tradition of delivering a personal tribute to each fallen hero.

In addition to the name-reading and bell-ringing, the organizations creates a field of flags at City Park, including special memorials to Maine residents who fell in combat.

We can think of no better way to engage in a meaningful Memorial Day observance than to support this effort. It transcends opinions that divide Americans on militarism, politics and religion, uniting us in the common cause of ensuring that people in uniform who died serving this nation won’t pass away unrecognized.

To help, call Albis at 443-6921. Donations to help defray the cost of the ceremony can be mailed to We Remember, P.O. Box 93, Woolwich, ME 04579.

letters@timesrecord.com