NEW YORK—Every year on a day in November, veterans are honored for their service—for any kind of service, in any kind of war.
The biggest parade in the country, New York’s Veterans Day Parade Tuesday saw diverse groups ranging from the military, schools, and marching bands to supportive government officials. It also honored the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
Crowds of people, including families with small children, leaned over the barricades, waving hands, flags, and signs.
“Thank you for your service!” some of them shouted. Veterans shouted back to soldiers in the crowd, “Thank you for your service!”
Many soldiers spoke of the shift in public attitude toward the military since the days of Nam: Decades ago, people would come out to protest America’s participation in the Vietnam War, and they lumped soldiers in as targets of their loathing.
