When a local woman began decorating veterans’ graves at Oak Hill Cemetery 25 years ago, there were only about 150 names on her list, but, as she noted last week, “It just keeps growing every year.”

Some of that growth, of course, is from veterans of World War II, many of whom are now in their 80s and reportedly dying at the rate of more than 1,000 a day. But some of the flags that will be placed at veterans’ graves this weekend will be for the current generation of soldiers, more than 800 who have died in Iraq since the United States invaded that country to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

Today’s warfare is much different. The enemy is less well-defined and the fighting is less regimented. Technology has broadened the threat and made it harder to detect. But in some ways, war is much the same. Like the soldiers in World War II, members of the U.S. military in Iraq are fighting for a principle and to keep their homeland safe. Columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. pointed out that both wars were fought against fanaticism, which is still fanaticism, he wrote, “whether it wears a swastika or quotes the Quran.”

And, as in World War II, those now dying in service of their country deserve the nation’s highest honor and respect.

The veterans of World War II probably didn’t want to see their sons and grandsons go to war, even for a good cause. They hoped their generation would be the last to have to weather such a storm. Something may have been gained from the experience but much also was lost, including hundreds of thousands of promising young lives.

Americans have the benefit of hindsight as they judge World War II. Like all wars, it was a savage event, but we also see it as an honorable action fought by honorable men. From the distance of 60 years, we can see that, although deplorable events may have occurred during World War II, some of them may have been necessary or at least understandable, given the pressures of combat.

Under the modern media microscope, events in Iraq are magnified and viewed day-to-day rather than placed in a larger context. Sixty years from now, history likely will view this military action much differently than it is depicted on the nightly news.

One aspect, however, is unlikely to change and that is the debt we owe to those who represent the United States in its armed forces. On the same weekend Americans dedicate the new World War II Monument in Washington, D.C., we also are likely to lose more brave soldiers in a new war.

The ability of those at home to fully understand their sacrifice is limited, but former Sen. Bob Dole, seriously wounded in World War II, understands it well. His advice on how to repay the sacrifice of those who return from war seems sound. To all those who have been a part of America’s military, we say, “Thank you for your service.”