Published on, Sept. 21 -- September 21, 2025 2:41 AM

There was a time when serving in the armed forces was not just an honor but a family tradition across classes. For generations, our forefathers proudly wore the uniform, great-grandfathers, grandfathers, even many of our fathers. The call to defend the country was embraced equally by all, whether one came from privilege or modest means.

Today, however, a stark divide has emerged. In our generation, it is rare to hear of anyone from the upper middle class or elite sending their children to the military. The uniform, once a shared source of pride, now belongs to the lower middle and middle classes. It is these very segments of society that already bear the heaviest economic burdens. The...