I remember the story a colleague told me about efforts at the church he served to make a big deal of Veterans Day. There were some folks who wanted all the pomp and circumstances. My colleague went and talked with a veteran who had seen actual action in a war and told this veteran about the plans. The veteran said "I won't go. I want nothing to do with that. And if they proceed with their plans, I will never return to the church." My colleague asked why. The veteran explained that he didn't want to be reminded of the things he did in the service. They haunted him. He said that the people who want all the pomp and circumstance never saw the horrible reality of war. If they wanted to honor his service, they should just say thank you and get on with life.