Reply #6: Amazing, innit?

[Dogmudgeon]

I live in an area with a lot of military people, so I've met a fair number of veterans of all ages. Whenever I meet someone who's served, I make it a point to call them "Sir" (or "Ma'am") and thank them for their service.

No one has EVER failed to get emotional and mist up about it. No pride, no vanity -- but a lot of poorly-suppresed tears. And no age-class of soldier is exempt, from WWII to the current war.

When I reflect on it, I have to ask myself, "My god, what the hell have we been doing to our soldiers over the past 60 years?"

No amount of flag-waving can heal the wounds of five generations of men and women who have been used for guncotton overseas and election props at home.

--bkl