hookrider -- not to nitpick, or anything, but -- CSA veterans were, as such, no more our veterans, U.S. veterans, than were U.K. veterans who fought against us in the Revolutionary War and/or the War of 1812
"[their] service to the Confederacy was a big part of things they did after the war" -- not sure I understand where you're going with that -- "things they did after the war" such as what?