I ALSO grew up doing this. My father enlisted in 1939 and remained in service until 1964. He did ‘Sicily’, on a troop ship getting torpedoed and was in the battle of Rome and was occupation in Germany at the end and after the war. My entire family was intimately familiar with base/post theaters and the practice.
My sister was born in Germany when my mother came to be with him. I myself did 8 years (1968-1976) nearly 7 were overseas.
You have to think about what your country is about. It shouldn’t be about mandating any behavior - and that includes adherence to things like this. It is EARNED and valued by those who realize what that value really is.
Fascism is direct oppressive regulation of a free society to impose political will. You might blithely shuck if off as my being against patriotism or the like, but I surely don’t. You should be ashamed of adding a “didn’t think FR would be....”
earned... or merited
(theologically, this is an acquired merit, acquired from having embraced God)
The actions of the left have stripped me of any give-a-crap about anyone thinking I should be ashamed of anything.
And to think less of anyone who pulls that one on me.