They're the ones who were disrespected by an establishment steeped in needless bigotry. They wore their uniforms to illustrate the fact that, in all other regards, they had been fit to serve the people of this nation.

As my Truman example further illustrates, you can't just go by what the average member of the military might think of the situation. If Truman had, segregation of the forces would have stayed the norm for the long term. Many think, and some evidence shows, that by desegregating the armed forces, the Civil Rights movement was accelerated because as men were forced to serve openly, as brothers-in-arms with men of different races, they came to understand that their bigotry made no sense.

So, by showing the civilians in this nation that these brave men were cast aside for reasons of bigotry, they're trying to pressure Obama to show the courage of Truman and do what's right. That's why they were right to wear the uniforms. They were good soldiers. They still could be.

By the way, just to be clear, I have every respect for the men and women who serve and for the institutions of the military. Every male in family for generations have served in every branch. I, of course, was precluded from doing so. Still, that doesn't change my positive feelings for our armed forces.