Doug,
I am a pacifist. I believe killing people is wrong. I do not believe that putting on a uniform changes this premise, that it is okay to kill another human being. I brought up my children, telling them that if two people have the same behavior, they are either both good or both bad. But one can not be praised for killing while the other be condemned.
I can not "set aside" my beliefs to thank someone who has agreed to go to another country and kill its populous in my name. As the 60's saying goes, "Killing for peace is like f**king for chastity." It makes no sense to me and I believe it is wrong.
Hilary Emmer