MARIETTA, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Veterans, politicians, beauty queens and more road down Roswell Street through downtown Marietta to celebrate the Fourth of July in the city's annual parade.
Gary Lemley, a Vietnam veteran said he appreciated the crowd's welcome, so many years after getting a different kind of welcome after coming home from the war.
"There were so many protesters and people that didn't like us," Lemley said. "We were just doing our job for our country. It's just amazing here to finally get some recognition."
Lemley said he feels attitudes toward the military have become more positive as more families have their own members go serve, and because of a surge of patriotism after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"It's overwhelming - so many people, so many flags, it's just a lot different from when we first came back," Lemley said. "And this is our welcome home. It gets you a little teary."
Lemley's son is a Desert Storm veteran and his grandson is going to Afghanistan this year.
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