A year ago in this space, Current Publishing printed the names of the 43 military members from Maine who have died serving their country in the two wars following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, that number has risen to 45. Capt. John R. Brainard, 24, raised in Dover-Foxcroft, died on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, in Kabul, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a helicopter crash. On Oct. 2, 2012, Sgt. 1st Class Aaron A. Henderson, 33, of Houlton, died after his unit was attacked by insurgents using a makeshift bomb in Zombalay Village, Afghanistan.

The deaths of Brainard and Henderson are a reminder that although the war has come to an end in Iraq and is winding down in Afghanistan, our service members remain in harm’s way, not only in those two countries, but also around the globe. The wisdom of U.S. intervention overseas is always up for debate – what is not is the commitment and sacrifice of men and women in uniform.

Maine has paid a high price in the two latest wars, with 45 deaths among the 6,648 U.S. service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a state, we should be proud of the fellow Mainers who have answered the call to arms, and aware of how political decisions here at home affect their lives.

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, here are the names of the 45 service members from Maine who have died in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom:

Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan

Evander E. Andrews, 36, Solon; Nicholes Darwin Golding, 24, Addison; Patrick Damon, 41, Falmouth; Andrew Small, 19, Wiscasset; Benjamin D. Keating, 27, Shapleigh; Edmund W. McDonald, 25, Casco; Christopher M. Wilson, 24, Bangor; Nicholas A. Robertson, 27, Old Town; Justin L. Buxbaum, 23, South Portland; Joshua Matthew Bernard, 21, New Portland; Jordan M. Brochu, 20, Cumberland; Joshua J. Kirk, 30, South Portland; Wade A. Slack, 21, Waterville; Brandon M. Silk, 25, Orono; Eric B. Shaw, 31, Exeter; Clinton E. Springer II, 21, Sanford; James R. Zimmerman, 25, Aroostook; Andrew Hutchins, 20, New Portland; Buddy W. McLain, 24, Mexico; Tyler M. Springman, 19, Hartland; John R. Brainard, 24, Dover-Foxcroft; and Aaron A. Henderson, 33, Houlton.

Operation Iraqi Freedom – Iraq

Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, Waterville; Daniel Francis Cunningham Jr., 33, Lewiston; Jeremiah J. Holmes, 27, North Berwick; Christopher D. Gelineau, 23, Portland; Lawrence A. Roukey, 33, Westbrook; Beau R. Beaulieu, 20, Lisbon; Lynn Robert Poulin Sr., 47, Freedom; Thomas John Dostie, 20, Somerville; Joshua U. Humble, 21, Appleton; Corey A. Dan, 22, Norway; Dustin J. Harris, Bangor; Dale James Kelly Jr., 48, Richmond; Dustin J. Libby, 22, Presque Isle; Kristopher R. Ciraso, 26, Bangor; Eric Ross, 26, Kenduskeag; Angel Rosa, 21, South Portland; Jason Swiger, 24, South Portland; Richard K. Parker, 26, Phillips; Joel A. House, 22, Lee; Jason E. Dore, 25, Moscow; Blair William Emery, 24, Lee; Jonathan A. Lowery, 38, Houlton; and Tyler J. Smith, 22, Bethel.

– Ben Bragdon, managing editor