As far as "getting over myself" goes - why? I have done an exceptional job of serving my country (including losing part of my right leg to a machinegun bullet) and I have done really great things to keep our country ahead of the world technologically. There are certainly many, many others that have done the same but I don't see any reason at all to hide my own light under a bushel basket.
Like many others, I didn't get a parade when I got back from Vietnam - quite the opposite, really. Now I am my own parade.
Thanks for the additional info, and thanks for your service.