I went to my youngest kid's high school graduation Friday evening. At one point, the principal began identifying all of the graduating seniors with some kind of special merit, and asked them to stand. It was honor society, student government, Eagle Scouts, etc. There was polite applause for each. Finally he asked the students who had committed to military service to stand. There was about a dozen. The several thousand people in the audience spontaneously rose with a standing ovation. It made my eyes grow misty.