Kat. This person learned nothing from his family, and is content to maintain a personal negative agenda regarding military history and service. Perhaps, if like Mick and I he saw the tears on the faces of veterans; and hear their conversations (seldom about war, usually about "absent friends") During memorial day services Matriot would glean a different understanding about the reticence to discuss the war. War is murder, fear and loathing, extremes of passion, destruction of beauty and belief. Concluding with a sadness and despair that never leaves the soul... Silence, innability to talk about horror, is the hallmark of the veteran. Respect them and the day, and count yourselves lucky, that such people fought and that you do not have to. Furthermore,if anyone has trouble with concscience, ask what the world would be like if Hitler and the Japanese had won the conflict...