By the time that unpopular war dragged on to its conclusion, there was so much opposition to it that returning troops seldom felt welcomed when they arrived home.

Since that time, it's become an article of faith that Americans should not confuse the actions of our leaders with the actions of young people called upon to fight America's wars.

One person who can speak to the importance of young soldiers knowing that people back home care is Los Gatos Rotarian Michael Frangadakis. He suggested to his fellow Rotarians that they support the community's home-town troops by identifying those Los Gatos and Monte Sereno residents who are now soldiers serving in the war zone, then recognize them by sending along a care package from home.

Frangadakis recalls how important it was to him to receive such a gift when he was serving in the Far East. His neighbors sent him a care package, and to this day, he stays in touch with them. "The cookies were crumbled, stale and smashed to smithereens, but it was one of the greatest gifts I've ever gotten," he told our reporter.

The Rotary Club already is aware of five or six local members of the military serving in Iraq, but they want to make sure that every local man and woman serving there knows that they have the support of their home town.

The Los Gatos Weekly-Times has joined the effort to learn about these troops and to tell their stories. We agree with the Rotary Club that a care package from home will go a long way to making troops from our community feel the thoughts of people back home are with them.


Burning the Flag

Another important lesson America learned from the Vietnam War is that when people take to the streets, the country's leaders pay attention. Many believe that massive anti-war protests played an important role in bringing an end to the Vietnam War.

Like it or not, anti-war protests—massive in scope, thanks to the Internet's role in rallying protestors—are a part of the current war. So it should come as no surprise that a Los Gatos High School history teacher posted a photographic display of a San Francisco peace march—including a photograph of someone burning an American flag. That has alarmed some people.

It shouldn't have.

Educators who want their students to understand what is happening on the world scene have an obligation to present the lesson in context. The role of demonstrators burning an American flag is every bit as much a part of the history of this war as are the United Nations weapons inspections and the 9/11 terrorist attack.