Vet's wife grateful for appreciation

It was with much pride that I, my daughters and their families watched my husband, Jim Marriott participate in the Veterans Day Parade and celebration in Marysville. He was very honored to be given a ride in a vintage Navy Jeep with his two granddaughters, Kara and Cameron, wearing his old dress uniform jacket as he waved and told the crowd "Thanks for coming out."

The problem is that he feels that he was incorrectly portrayed in the article the following day as not patriotic. Nothing could be further from the truth. He proudly displays his numerous flags and one of his most favorite holidays is Independence Day. Jim served honorably for three years in the U.S. Army, one of which was in Vietnam. Back then, there were no "Welcome home hero" banners or celebrations for the returning soldiers. Many were cursed, spat upon and called baby killers as they departed planes after their tours of duty. They came back from the front lines or wherever they were serving and expected to return to their normal lives with no services offered to help them adapt to life back home. Many didn't adapt and, as most of you know, a large majority of the homeless living in our riverbottoms are Vietnam vets, as a result of mental and physical issues that have been ignored for decades.

Just this summer, UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento announced that soldiers serving in Vietnam have much higher incidences of chronic and terminal illnesses from the direct or indirect exposure to Agent Orange. It has taken 40 years for this acknowledgment. It has taken almost as long for Jim to openly celebrate his service to our country, and now loves to wear his Vietnam Army Veteran hat with pride, as he finally feels that he is appreciated and that his fellow Americans are grateful for the time he served defending our wonderful country.

Yes, he didn't believe in the war in which he served, or the two that we are currently involved in. He saw firsthand the death, destruction and corruption that comes with any war, and hopes with all his heart that our beautiful grandchildren will never be called upon to fight in a war that often times is started under false pretenses (as in "weapons of mass destruction").

I want to thank all of you who turned out for this parade, cheering and clapping as each group of current and past military groups passed you by. You let them know with your enthusiastic responses that they are, indeed, appreciated and honored. The smile on Jim's face as he drove by in that Jeep said it all, he finally feels that hi long-awaited "Thanks for your service" was at last meant for him. Welcome home, Jim.

Kathy Marriott is a Brownsville resident