The NJ Dept of Military & Veteran’s Affairs held a nice ceremony for NJ’s Vietnam vets Monday at the memorial – about 55 soldiers or their family members were there. One thing that struck me was when the Colonel who served as the MC said that many of these soldiers were never properly recognized until NJ re-instituted the NJ Vietnam Distinguished Service Medal in the late 80s. I see a lot of parallels between Vietnam and the Iraq War. Each started with greater public support, and each then divided our country. But I think the shameful (or non) reception soldiers in Vietnam received when they returned home have taught us something. Soldiers only implement our foreign policy, as the Colonel said. They don’t make it. Whether Iraq is popular or not, they should be welcomed home as heroes. Too often the word “heroes” is used to label millionaires who play a children’s game for a living. The real heroes are the folks that were there this morning, and those etched on the wall behind them.