Last week President Trump framed the coronavirus outbreak in military terms, stating that the nation was at war against an unseen enemy and urging all Americans to prepare to sacrifice, much like the Greatest Generation did during the Depression years and World War II.

“Now it’s our time,” he said. “We must sacrifice together, because we are all in this together, and we will come through together. It’s the invisible enemy. That’s always the toughest enemy, the invisible enemy.”

Trump said every generation of Americans has been called to make shared sacrifices for the good of the nation, including teenagers who in past wars volunteered to fight or helped keep factories working 24/7.

What we don’t need to be seen during our current national crisis is the kind of me-first attitude that some college students and other teens showed on spring break in Florida last week. Some were more concerned with the bars and nightclubs being shut down than in following the guidelines to prevent the further spread of the virus.

When the coronavirus started, the belief was that it mostly affected older people. That gave many young people a false impression that they couldn’t be infected.

For spring breakers to ignore the government’s nonessential travel warnings was bad enough, but then to hear their selfish reactions was deplorable.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis didn’t want the partiers putting his residents at risk while the nation is on a wartime footing.

“The message I think for spring breakers is that the party is over in Florida,” DeSantis said. You’re not going to be able to congregate on any beach in the state.”

In times of war, it’s vital to keep the supply chains running. During World War II, heavy 2½-ton trucks were crucial to the Allies - delivering troops, supplies and ammunition as well as the vital fuel for our tanks on the front lines.

In today’s crisis, we’re equally dependent on the big trucks that deliver food to our tables, as well as cleaning products, including those much-valued hand sanitizers and paper products.

Pennsylvania did not do the truckers any favors when it became the first state to close its 35 interstate highway rest areas and welcome centers to the public. The closures drew a swift outcry from long-haul truckers’ organizations.

In a letter to President Donald Trump, the American Trucking Association said the government should waive restrictions on truck drivers delivering essential goods, give drivers alternative ways of renewing their licenses as state facilities shut down, and keep rest stops open.

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association stated that gas stations, vehicle repair facilities, and service stations should be designated an “essential service” by state and local government officials.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation did react to the wise advice by reopening 13 of its 30 rest areas in critical locations.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 3.5 million people drive trucks for a living and keep our commerce flowing. To ensure the supply chain, we must take care of the drivers, many of whom have had their workload quadrupled in this evolving crisis.

By Jim Zbick | tneditor@tnonline.com