My wife's dad was a WWI (One) veteran, a teenage enlistee in the Army. He suffered for his entire life from exposure to poison gas in the trenches. As a soldier, he met Gen. Pershing in person. As a vet, he couldn't do farm work, but he led a full and useful life. My dad was a minesweeper skipper, an officer in the Philippines during WWII. HIs brother was a Navy officer in the first major amphibious landing at Tarawa. I was a minesweeper radioman enlisted in the Navy in Vietnam.
My wife sold poppies on Veterans Day. One veterans organization had poppies that were factory made, but another had poppies made by veterans, that she preferred.
My great aunt's son died as part of the crew of a tank with Gen. Patton's corps.
Thanks to veterans for their service, to those who died in service, and to those who suffered permanent handicaps from service.