If it's such a special day, why was the veteran out shopping on it?

I'm with the OP. The way the world is today, remembering the sacrifices of past vets is just pomp and circumstance. We've learned nothing from two world wars, and are doomed to repeat them. Might as well just scrap Remembrance Day. If you still want to hoo-rah more recent veterans of illegal wars, rename the day to Veterans' Day like the Excited States and let the rest of us carry on waiting for WWIII.