On Veterans Day, we honor Brooklyn’s fallen, and those who remember them.

Timeline: Anna Codrea-Rado / Timetoast

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As U.S. servicemen and women celebrated the 91st annual Veterans Day Parade in New York City, they continued to face two contentious issues: the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the debate over the possible repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Veterans from every American conflict sat together in white fold-up chairs for the 10 a.m. opening ceremony at Madison Square Park. As they listened to addresses by Gov. David Patterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and high-ranking military officials, some family members waved miniature flags while others clutched framed photographs of loved ones in military uniforms.

The day also marked the 60th anniversary of the Korean War and was replete with symbols marking the partnership between the two countries. Among them was a rendition of “God Bless America” sung by the Korean Children’s Choir. After the opening ceremony, thousands of veterans marched down 5th Avenue, led by dozens of veterans riding motorcycles.

One soldier threw candy to the crowd out of the top of a military truck as it rumbled down the street.

With U.S. troops still stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq, many of the older veterans discussed their concerns for the country’s future combat.

“War is stupid,” said Frank Milano, an 89-year-old World War II Air Force corporal from Queens. “Always respect the flag and respect yourself. How can you straighten out something that is completely wrong? It’s wrong that people are killing one another. We have to help one another. In a time like this over there, we in World War II fought for victory. Let’s fight for victory and get out of there.”

“I feel so sad for these young guys who are getting into the service today and fighting a battle where we don’t even know what we’re doing there,” agreed 83-year-old Rudolph Castore, a World War II Army sergeant. “It brings tears to my eyes to think that they’re out there trying to fight, but it’s not like World War II. We really knew who we were fighting. That’s the sad part about the situation in Iraq and what’s going on today. It’s just terrible, and I think about it everyday.”

But one active duty member did not see such a grim future for the wars in the Middle East.

“I think we’re doing well,” said Sgt. Alex Andriacorneiro. “The Iraqi people really appreciate our help. They support us and we support them. And we’re getting the mission done.”

The war in Afghanistan began in 2001, while the war in Iraq began in 2003. President Barack Obama has placed a July 2011 deadline for the beginning of troop withdrawals in Afghanistan, but the administration recently suggested at a conference in Australia that the country needs four more years before giving full control to the Afghan people. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all mentioned 2014 as the new deadline.

Another issue on the minds of vets was the possible repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” legislation, which prevents openly gay soldiers from serving. While many of the older veterans said that they did not have much knowledge on the policy, younger ones showed more enthusiastic support for the repeal.

The policy stipulates that soldiers who are not heterosexual can serve in the military provided they keep their sexual orientation to themselves.

In September, Virginia Phillips, a federal judge in California, ruled the policy violates equal protection rights in the First Amendment. Obama promised in his 2008 campaign to overturn the legislation, but large Republican swings in this month’s election will likely make it difficult.

At a party for veterans hosted by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America at the Providence social venue on W. 57th St., 27-year-old Rey Leal of the U.S. Marine Corps said that he believes all people deserve a chance to serve their country if they really want to.

“I think that if you want to serve your country, you should serve your country,” said Leal, who served in Iraq in 2004-05 and again in 2006. “I can’t imagine making that decision one day and finally saying, ‘You know what? I want to serve my country,’ and then for some reason I’m not able to. It’s not some physical or mental issue. It’s just because of who I am. I can’t imagine that. In my eyes, I don’t think it’s fair.”

“I served with a lot of people who were closeted,” added 32-year-old Army first lieutenant Jason Brandle. “One of my best soldiers was closeted.” Brandle attributed his open mindset to his New York City upbringing, growing up in Jackson Heights, Queens.

“It’s a new era,” he said. “Things that don’t evolve, die.”

Navy veteran Shawna Lee stuck an American flag into her blazer pocket, accentuating the ribbons she earned on two deployments in the U.S. Navy. Photo: Portlock/Brooklyn Ink

By Sarah Portlock

Navy veterans Milaina Jacques and Shawna Lee knew they wanted to come to the annual Veterans Day Parade along Fifth Avenue — the only question was, what would they wear?

Jacques, 25, and Lee, 24, met aboard the USS Harry S. Truman during their first deployment in 2005 in the Persian Gulf and became fast friends. They soon discovered that they both were from Brooklyn — Jacques lives in Crown Heights, Lee in Flatbush — and loved fashion.

“On the ship, we would be out to sea and plan our future,” Jacques said. “We were both into fashion and we both wanted to go to F.I.T,” the Fashion Institute of Technology. They bonded while admiring the local fashions they saw in Dubai, London, and Paris.

But military uniforms don’t allow for much personal style, and the girls tried their best. Lee said she would paint her nails bright colors or dye her hair, but her supervisors would make her take it off. The parade was their chance to make their uniforms more stylish.

Early Wednesday morning, Lee and Jacques rose and pinned their Good Conduct and National Defense medals and ribbons, among others, to their own navy blue blazers and paired it with tight pants, black boots, and bright handbags. At one point, Jacques considered wearing her “cruise jacket,” the bomber-style jacket with patches for the wearer’s ship, wars fought, ports entered, and years fighting, but there was a catch.

Navy veterans and Brooklynites Milaina Jacques, left, and Shawna Lee joined thousands of vets who marched up Fifth Avenue on Wednesday in the annual New York City Veterans Day Parade. Photo: Portlock/Brooklyn Ink

“Mine is red and I didn’t have anything to match it,” she said.

It was the first parade for both girls, who were always deployed on past Veterans Days. In September, they enrolled in Kingsborough Community College in Manhattan Beach — “to get all the general requirements out of the way,” Lee explained, before applying to F.I.T. ­— and were invited to ride in the City University of New York-wide float along the parade route up Fifth Avenue, from 25th to 56th streets.

Jacques and Lee arrived at the CUNY meeting point at West 29th Street at 10 am, and, by noon, nearly 100 students and staffers were milling about, catching up with fellow soldiers and taking pictures with the bright blue and white CUNY flatbed truck. Jacques was missing art class, sociology, English and history to attend the parade, but secured an official letter from CUNY excusing her for the day. There are at least 250 veterans who attend Kingsborough, according to the school’s veterans affairs coordinator, Peaches Diamond.

“I’m very excited to be here,” Jacques said, tightening her leopard-print scarf against the brisk November wind. “It’s to celebrate what we’ve done, and it’s reminiscing to see all the vets who know what we did. When you come home, friends don’t really know what you did.”

Lee said the day was her way of supporting friends who are still on active duty, but wasn’t sure if she would come until she watched on TV the funerals for 13 soldiers killed in the mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas last week.

“I may not have known them personally, but it’s still sad when a life is lost,” she said, acknowledging that Jacques gave her a push, too.

At 12:45, the truck hauling the CUNY float revved its engine and turned the corner to Fifth Avenue. Jacques and Lee were on a top level and beamed as they saw the spectators lined up, clapping as they passed and holding signs that said simply, “Thank you.” The girls cheered and waved their flags fanatically.

When the float passed the New York Public Library, a parade emcee barked into a bullhorn, “And here’s CUNY!” Jacques and Lee threw their heads back and cheered even louder when he mentioned Kingsborough.

By 1:50, the truck arrived at 56th Street, the official end of the parade. Jacques and Lee were beaming.

“I want to do it again!,” Jacques said twice. “It felt like when we man the rails,” she added, referring to the Navy tradition of sailors lining up along a ship’s railings when it enters a port.

“It makes you feel proud that you served your country,” she added. “I didn’t expect a lot of people to be clapping and cheering for us, and to see old veterans gathering and all the kids cheering us on.”

Lee looked expectantly at Jacques.

“I’m definitely glad I came,” she said. “Thanks for convincing me.”

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Meanwhile, in Brooklyn Heights…

Photo: Roberts/Brooklyn Ink

At Cadman Plaza Park, a young man stood staring up at the 24-foot tall memorial wall that honors those from Brooklyn who served in World War II. The wall is flanked on each side by a giant stone sculpture—one is a male warrior bearing a sword, the other a woman holding a child. The figures are meant to represent victory and family.

The man stood with his two young daughters at his side. One gripped his hand as he read aloud part of the engraved inscription on the monument wall:

TO THE HEROIC MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN WHO FOUGHT FOR LIBERTY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR

“That’s my grandpa,” he told his daughters proudly. “Do you understand? Daddy’s dad’s dad.”

-Daniel Roberts