Red Cross knitting patterns from World War II. They have the added "frisson" of being scans of the original pages, in some cases with crinkled or yellowed paper, or very obviously having been mimeographed.

The most knitting-themed Memorial Day link I could come up with. (Courtesy of the "big" knitlist).

Times are very different now; my parents were small children during World War II and they talk about food rationing (not a big deal, in their families it was seen as a patriotic thing to do), collecting milkweed fluff for life-vests, and can and scrap metal drives. We have none of that happening now; the only way we know a war is happening is through the news (and possibly through increased security concerns some places). Would attitudes be different if we had food rationing or if the car manufacturers and other heavy industry had to shift production for the war effort?

Somehow, it does not feel right to be told to go out and buy stuff to help (indirectly) with the "war effort."