NATCHEZ &045; When they returned home from Vietnam, veterans Donnie Verucchi, Tommy Williams and Johnny Rodriguez didn’t get much of a reception.

So on Sunday afternoon, instead of watching the war in Iraq on television, they decided to show their support for the troops.

&uot;The only statement we’re making is that we can tell our grandkids we didn’t sit on the couch and watch the war. We got up and did something about it,&uot; Verucchi said as he and his fellow veterans stood along Seargent S. Prentiss Drive outside the VFW hall. They carried American and POW flags.

Passing motorists showed their support in various ways &045; some honking car horns, some waving or saluting, some simply giving a thumbs up.

&uot;It lights my heart up,&uot; Rodriguez said of the support.

&uot;You get a feel for how the community feels,&uot; Williams said.

That support, Verucchi said, was not there when he and other Vietnam veterans returned home from the war.

&uot;We were told not to wear our uniforms when we came home for our own protection in California,&uot; he said. &uot;I was so glad to get home it didn’t matter &045; but when I look back on it now, it really bothers me.&uot;

Seeing war coverage on television &045; especially Sunday’s reports of some American soldiers being taken as prisoners of war &045; hits home for these veterans.

&uot;They’re not getting the treatment we would give

(to them),&uot; Rodriguez said of the Iraqi regime. &uot;That’s when we really need to get behind these troops.&uot;

But seeing television coverage of war protests is also affecting &045; and it’s part of what inspired the three VFW members to take their own stand Sunday. &uot;We don’t agree with the war protesting at all,&uot; Verucchi said. &uot;The soldiers gave them that right.&uot;

&uot;We just want to show our troops we’re behind them,&uot; Rodriguez said.