They came unfazed by the turbulent clouds overhead. Came until they'd lined the overlooks, filled the aisles and squeezed into every space.

They celebrated America’s veterans from the Civil War forward Confederates and Yankees, the noble warriors from World War II and those from Vietnam.

"We want to thank the fallen heroes. A grateful nation does this annually. But a grateful people should do this every day. Thank God for the American soldier,” Rep. Al Green told those gathered.  

If there is anything Americans have learned in our on-going class in citizenship it is to separate the soldier from the politics of the war he or she is drafted to fight.

But some Vietnam Vets wonder if we learned much else.

"I think we're seeing a lot of history being repeated,” said Vietnam veteran Steve Blumenthol.

He was 19 when he arrived in Vietnam.

"Recently, there was a headline in the paper that said small arms fire was being used to bring down choppers, that it was a new tactic. New hell, that was common in Vietnam,” said Blumenthol.

What bothers the veterans the most is seeing soldiers sent back for their second or third tours in Iraq.

"We're going to have to have a draft. You can't keep sending the same troops back over and over. Their luck runs out,” said Vietnam veteran Steve Jaffe.

"One trip to Vietnam was enough. Not two. And now they're asked to do three,” said veteran Paul Washington.

Blumenthal can hear Truman's line: “The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know. “

"We failed to recognize the history of Iraq and the history of warfare, including Vietnam."

So how does the country get out of this?

“I don't have an answer,” Blumenthol said after a pause. “I pray about that every day."

So, too, do the American soldiers stationed in Iraq and their families back home.