Or obstacles we have overcome or like to think we have. History is invoked, especially as heritage, to promote moral values for the present day. Their choice should give us the clue that they are more sympathetic to Nazi values that they represent themselves to be, and even admit to themselves. Vichy France will be French history, but I rather doubt it will be ever French Heritage. Though soldiers in battle often do have courage, what is important is for what they fought.
History is full of violence.
We honor military heroism because of the values we wish to assert today. The fact that men and women sacrificed for these values tells us that they are valuable. Also, we wish to emphasis patriotism, fighting for ones country, because in the future we may have to fight again to preserve the nation, perhaps under very adverse odds with nothing to offer those fighting for our country but an appeal to their patriotism. Our historical tradition instructs the exact opposite. Over a hundred thousand Americans from the South fought for the preservation of our nation in the American army during the Civil War.