Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. It reminded me of when George Bush said at the New York city parade for Desert Storm vets, “this for for the VietNam vets too”. I almost choked on my own bile when I heard this. When I came home from Nam I was amazed, over time, to learn how many people had prayed for me and for US...and how many did not.
You earned the title “vet” by serving honorably. Well done.
Back in the 80’s, I worked with a man who did a tour of duty in Nam and we got to talking about the attitude that was displayed to the returning soldiers.
I told him that I was disgusted with that attitude and I never felt that way but really appreciated his service.
I never saw a grown man so close to tears in my entire life.
Another incident that had a profound impact on me was when I was helping arrange a color guard for a Fourth of July celebration at a local Christian camp. The music person and I went to the local DAV and made the arrangements.
We had the service, the color guard was at the front of the sanctuary, we sang a bunch of patriotic songs, and while they exited down the aisle, everyone spontaneously stood to their feet and gave them a HUGE standing ovation.
The oldest guy there, a vet who was probably in his 70’s at that time, just leaned against the door in the back and bawled his eyes out like a little kid.
It really made me realize the damage done to our vets during that era when they were so despised and treated with such contempt. I’m so glad we were able to be a blessing to that man.