Confederate veterans are not veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States.
True. I am a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, as well as a U.S. military veteran. Confederate Army and Navy veterans are also U.S. military veterans, according to U.S. Public Law:
"(3)(e) For the purpose of this section, and section 433, the term 'veteran' includes a person who served in the military or naval forces of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, and the term 'active, military or naval service' includes active service in such forces." [Public Law 85-425, in "U.S. Code on Confederate War Veterans." 1958]
You can argue that citizens of the Confederacy were not U.S. citizens at that time; but that would insinuate that Lincoln attacked a foreign nation (which he did.) You cannot have it both ways; at least, not with me.
Mr. Kalamata