Jack, I’m a history teacher and veteran. My students know about Hitler’s evil empire, and others. They know about Nam and Korea KIAs as I keep a homemade sign in my classroom listing ALL casualties in every war since the Revolution. This includes the Afghan-Iraqi wars. My students “get it”, each in their own way. And you would rightly label me a lefty.
“Patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings.”
I don’t believe you’re a scoundrel Jack, and there’s enough tin-plate, fake hero-posers to make both of us weep. Honor, respect and never forget. It’s the sacrifice of the fallen that should unite us, right?