Memorial Day used to be so much more patriotic than it is today. My childhood memories of Memorial Day were either marching to the Butler Cemetery with the Boy Scouts in the annual parade, or sitting by the curb and watching my Dad carry the flag by with the American Legion. The long-winded preachers or politicians speaking at the cemetery service didn’t inspire a little boy. But the snappy uniforms and polished rifles sure did. Those parades inspired pride and patriotism in me.

Something went sour in America during the Vietnam War. For the first time ever, military uniforms were disrespected. When I entered the US Army in 1967 soldiers in uniform received a discount when traveling on Greyhound buses. When I came home on a bus in 1970, the first item of business was to wear civilian clothes so we were not identified. We were all marked as baby-killers from a few atrocities in Vietnam.

Subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have returned much of that luster to American servicemen, but the casual, non-patriotic attitude of America at large has never returned. If you see a veteran today say, “Thank you for serving”. And remember those who didn’t come back.