Thanking a Veteran

Thank you, Bud, for your service to your country during the war in Vietnam. I am proud of you for many reasons. That you are a Vietnam Vet is just one of them.
A year ago, I realized one of the dreams I had held for many years - getting Bud to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is a moving experience for anyone, but most especially for the veterans of that conflict.
America has been celebrating Veterans Day on November 11 since 1954. Before that, November 11 was known as Armistice Day in recognition of the end of WWI in 1918. It wasn't until after WWII and the Korean Conflict that the name was changed to honor all veterans.
It has only been since the Persian Gulf War and the War in Iraq that thanking veterans for their service has become widespread. Vietnam Vets never experienced welcome home celebrations. They were spat upon and called 'baby killers'. They received aid for physical battle wounds, but not psychological ones. Civilians wanted to forget those years and so did the vets.
When Bud's cobra health insurance ran out earlier this year his pre-existing conditions meant he was going to have to obtain very expensive coverage through HIP-IOWA. His only other option was to try getting health coverage through the Veterans Hospital. What we thought might be a bad experience has turned out to be a very good experience.
He chose to go to the Veterans' Hospital in Des Moines rather than Omaha. I remembered the horror stories about the DM facility from the 70's & 80's so I wasn't expecting much. He was immediately impressed by the way the clinics are run: appointments kept on time, the professionalism of the staff and the "thanks for your service" from everyone.
Bud has never talked very much about his army experiences. But I could see it at the Wall in DC and at the Vets Hospital in DM, when he is around those other vets of a certain age, he is a member of a band of brothers.