In all the years I served in the military, the most distressful experience I had was my training instructor. That is why I was so proud to attend the parade in St. Louis for our heroes of the Iraq War.

Seeing thousands of fellow Americans lining the street to honor them was very heartwarming. In a way, it reminded me of when I was a child watching the parades all over the United States at the end of the Second World War. As I watched our heroes wheeling their wheelchairs up Market Street into the cold brisk wind, I had to step back from the crowd. I didn't want anyone to see my jaws quivering and the tears running down my face.

When I left the parade I kept feeling something was missing. I now know it is their commander-in-chief that ordered them into what I believe was that useless war.

Ray Vance, St. Peters