During this past weekend we saw Veterans Day parades around the country marked by a number of incidents that underscore the deep divisions within the veterans community.  In Boston 18 members of the anti-war veterans group, Veterans for Peace, were arrested as they sought inclusion in the city's Veterans Day parade.

From the Boston Globe:

Some protesters wore gags, which they later said symbolized the fact that, while they were permitted to march in the parade, they were prevented from carrying signs opposing the war in Iraq...When Boston police asked the demonstrators to move from the front of the podium so that the Veterans Day services could continue, they refused. As the Boston Firemen's Band played The Marine Hymn, several protesters were placed in plastic handcuffs and led away.

In Denver an 11th-hour agreement last Friday ended up allowing anti-war veterans to march in the city's parade after being told a month ago they were banned.

Members of Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War marched at the end of Saturday's parade Nov. 10 holding signs protesting the war and President Bush. Some people along the parade route turned their backs on those veterans while others applauded.

When one a sign belonging to one of the protesters fell on the ground, Florence Sebern stood on it and refused to move in a protest of her own.
"Today is a day of patriotism, not politicism. Period. End of statement," she said.

Air Force veteran Jim Hill said the groups should be allowed to march in the parade.
"They put in their time, they lost their buddies too, their friends," he said.

A writer for the Long Beach Press-Telegram received some critical messages after he defended veterans wishing to protest in that area's  parade.  Unlike in Denver, no agreement was reached and protesters were absent from the event.  One message read:

"If anti-war vets want to march to get their message out, all they simply have to do is file with the city and have a march. They don't approach it that way because they know no one would show up. Instead, they target a long-time tradition of honoring our fallen heroes and attempt to hijack the event for themselves with a captive audience."

In the Santa Barbara Independent, anti-war Vietnam veterans stated their own reasons for condoning protests at these types of parades:

We will be joining with like-minded citizens to petition our representatives for legislation that will meet the just needs of veterans. We will be striving to end our government’s pursuit of senseless military adventures.

Often the military is portrayed as being of a single mindset.  These events show views among the ranks are as diverse as those of the general American public.