As the Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial kick-off of summer approaches, my thoughts turn to those - past and present - who serve our country in uniform.  In reality, there is only a small percentage of American citizens who have served in the military, and an even small percentage that have experienced combat.  Many have paid with their lives and I hope everyone takes a few moments this weekend to at least acknowledge that some gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we could drink beer and eat hot dogs at our barbecues.

Like many Baby Boomers, I just have to close my eyes to remember a very long year in Vietnam.  After a while, Vietnam was all there was; the "world" (i.e., the life we left in the U.S.) seemed like a dream.  I think any of us would have given everything just to have one day with our loved ones again.  A year can go by very slowly.  At the end, I'm not sure how sane any of us were.  I know coming home was like Christmas and Thanksgiving all rolled into one.  But when I got back, it didn't seem right either.  It took awhile to adjust.  I had changed in many ways.

Today, I think of all the young men and women serving their third or fourth tour in the Iraq or Afghanistan.  Do you think they have changed?  I guarantee you they see the world through a different lens than you do. 

In these wars without end and likely no pay-off, we no longer equally share the burden.  Unlike WWII where everybody served and sacrificed, Vietnam was full of deferments for students, the rich and the politically connected.  Now, we have an "all volunteer" military, which really means that it is mostly comprised of blue-collar kids who see the military as their path to get a leg up in world.  The rest of us hardly know there are wars going on.  When was the last time you really gave thought to what it must be like for these young people everyday in the deserts of Iraq or Afghanistan?  Have you had to sacrifice ANYTHING during the last eight years to keep these wars going?!

The military brass and politicians love our "all volunteer" force.  They don't have to put up with questions from the ranks as they did in Vietnam.  It allows them to do things that they could not otherwise get away with, such as playing world cop and launching optional wars to gain rights to oil fields.  After all, it's not their sons and daughters who are fighting and dying.  Remember that what really forced an end to the Vietnam war was an overwhelming outcry from the streets.  Hear the silence out there now?

But it's not just pushing the burden off on the poor within our society that worries me.  What bothers me is that we are actually creating two classes of citizens.  The majority have not had to give up anything over the past eight years.  The minority - blue collar kids - have sacrificed over and over again.  What happens when they get tired and disillusioned?  Will some perhaps use their hard-earned combat skills against the government they feel has abused their service?

There is a solution to this splintered society we are creating.  I support a required National Service for all young men and women during the first two years after graduating from high school.  No exceptions.  It can be military, Peace Corps, or another sanctioned service.  Everyone gives something back to the country, and in doing so shares a common experience that creates a bond among themselves and among generations.  It provides young people with a sense of dedication, loyalty, pride and commitment while they mature into adults.  They will carry away an understanding of what it means to be an American and that personal involvement is necessary to keep our liberties alive.  

But I doubt anyone will dwell on this over the Memorial Day weekend.  Most will just remain blissfully content in their own little bubble worlds. I, for one, will hoist a cold one to salute those souls who make our revelry possible.  I wish they could be here to share it with us.  They deserve it; they have earned the right.