In the absence of service personnel defending their and other's countries, the world would be a far worse place. Showing those past and present respect demonstrates an appreciation of the difference that their service made.
Since I just joined the board and am now reading a bunch of things, I want to say Thank You for your kind words, it was my pleasure to serve my country; and if needed, even at my age would do so again.
if a person dies for his or her country, what do they get in return? a coffin and a ceremony, then their children (if any) have to live without a mother or father. People have to live through a war to understand it and what it does to the ordinary people as it is those people who have to pay for it and suffer. war does not benefit the ordinary people, only those who need power and money.