On No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain was on South Carolina and joined some Civil War re-enactors.  (I'm sure Anthony, who is from New York, got teased plenty for being a Yankee)

During the segment he asked one of the re-enactors why they did what they did, and while I don't remember it word for word, I will paraphrase it because it is is something everyone needs to remember and very appropriot a day after Memorial Day.

These men gave their all for something. Whether or not you agree with what they died for, that is something that should be respected and remembered.