I guess you have to take things for what they were worth. I took my grandchildren to see the "Wall" there and we found the names of Gator 297 and I told them the story of what happened that day. That was something I never thought I would be able to do.

Most of the guys seem the same as me as far as the event as a whole, it was an excuse to draw people to the area but it did give some a chance to meet with guys that served in the same place and bullshit about old times. Something like this would have nevered happened 30 years ago. We belong to a group that few people outside of it will ever understand. We did what we had to do and then most of us tried to put our lives back in order without the support or help of the rest of the country. I consider my wife a vet just like me. She waited for me to come home and then stood by my as I tried to adjust to a life that at times were hard.

Maybe its a good thing that the American people were given a black eye from the way we were treated when we came home. At least the ones that now have to fight for our freedom are given the respect that their deserve.