As a marshal helping to ensure order, Hill heard plenty of angry exchanges, with neither side holding back. He recalls one protester marching by and yelling, "You don't support the troops!"
The vets fired back: "We are the troops!"
We have a replica of the Wall here in town, about 60% of the size of the one in DC. The anti-war peaceniks put flyers out all over the place starting a week ahead of time to try and organize a protest on the 4th anniversary of the hostilities in Iraq. A lot of us showed up, many in uniform, and when these snotty nosed punks and 60's hippie burnouts saw they were outnumbered about 3 to 1 they decided they had best just leave before they needed a lot of dental work. They barely made a peep.
I was standing next to the 3 active duty guys who screamed that the first time,,, a big smile came to me, i looked to my left to see these guys (in civies), and then I joined right in screaming till it hurt and screamed some more!!
What a day! :-)