Lost soldiers

I am a 66-year-old Vietnam veteran. Although I always get sad this time of year for my comrades long lost, something else is making me even sadder.

Over the years, the true meaning of Memorial Day seems to have been lost in a three-day weekend of barbeques, backyard parties and car and furniture sales. The majority of the people 40 and under with whom I speak cannot honestly tell me the true meaning of this most solemn day.

Our endless wars, lack of a military draft and of shared sacrifice — only 1 percent of Americans serve their country — mean we have become a country that believes in “Patriotism Lite.”

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 8:16 PM with the headline "Lost soldiers."