I don't know what Americans are taught but me as a Canadian i was taught to remember their deaths not to celebrate anything. Hence why we call it "remeberance day" and not "veterans day".
Most people join the army because they are poor and have no money. A lot do it for their familys. They sacrifice themselfs for the financial wellbeing of the people they love. That to me is reason enough to remember and honour them. Forget about all that political and government bullshit. You think if everyone was financially stable and eating 3 times a day people would fight in wars? Hell no. They do it so they can survive. So their familys have a chance.
Government provides incentive for you to join the army. Aint no one joining that shit out of so called "patriotism" its never been that way. It never will. Keep the people poor and hungry, keep them fighting.