This Memorial Day, we pray for our leaders to recognize our shared humanity, for peace among all peoples and nations, and for peaceful resolutions to the current conflicts in the world. We also honor the commitment and courage of our soldiers, pray for their safe and speedy return home, and emphasize the importance of addressing their physical and mental health needs once they are home.

Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan (born February 12, 1987 in Neptune, New Jersey, died August 6, 2007 in Baqouba, Iraq) was an American Muslim United States Army Specialist who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his service. In 2008, the photographer Platon took pictures of hundreds of men and women who volunteered to serve in the military and were sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. Platon took this photo of Kareem Khan’s mother at his graveside in Arlington National Cemetery, where he is buried with full military honors.

Thousands of American Muslims have proudly served their country at home and abroad since the American Civil War. Serving them are Muslim chaplains; the first full-time Muslim chaplain in the Department of Veterans Affairs was Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad. Now retired from service, he served as hospital chaplain clinician at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. among other positions during his 22 years of military service.