Memorial Day is an occasion for time at the beach, meals from the barbecue - and a few moments of silence for those who have given their lives in battle.
And while we'd never compare the fictional exploits of characters on television to the real world heroism of men and women in the military... the small screen is filled with a variety of veterans.
Many of these former armed service members use skills honed from years of training and fighting to apprehend bad guys in a different setting, from Los Angeles to Hawaii to D.C.
Some are vampires. Which would serve them well on the front lines, really.
So in honor of Memorial Day, we salute the following 17 TV characters, all of whom have proudly served their country. Click around and pay your respects now:
