Is it just my generation of veterans who look down on veteran pride/apparel, or does that change with age/how long you have been out?

I wish I could wear my old field jacket with the pocket rocket and SAC patch but the damn thing shrunk... especially in the middle.

SGT Suraj Dave I served from 1968 to 1972. I wear my Marine Corps ball cap most of the time. Once a Marine, Always a Marine. There is nothing wrong about being proud of your service. Why would you not be proud?

I don't think it's a generational thing. I believe there are 2 kinds of people who leave the service. There are those who close that chapter of their lives and that's the end of it. They won't talk about it, they won't display it. You probably wouldn't know they served until you dusted off some trinkets cleaning out their attic space. Then there are the ones who live and breathe the military. They enjoyed it so much that they never quite left the service. They have the memorabilia. They've probably got framed photos or awards. They might even have a model collection of some of the vehicles they worked with.

There's nothing wrong with either one. It's just the way we deal with separating. Not to mention you also have to factor in the reception the servicemembers received during their career. We've got some veterans who got out around the Support your Troops society and some during the Make Love, Not War society. This could also impact how a particular person feels about their service to the country.