What have our veterans become after the global conflicts they have participated in? They are possibly seen living healthy lives, unscathed by the horrors of war. However, there are unfortunate veterans holding pieces of cardboard on the sidewalks or alleys as a living, and some struggling in hospital beds and others under care for post-traumatic stress that is beyond their control. Even though the U.S. Military has been able to accommodate the needs of our troops stationed in the various nations, they have not been able to provide for those who have been discharged and sent to their homes, medically or honorably. Why do we promote this notion that the troops are only good when they are wielding rifles and on the move? We, as citizens, need to comprehend that the veterans are just as important as those in service, because they are part of our military, and should be honored. It's about time that we citizens, civilian or military, should change our perception of the veterans that have sacrificed a lot so we can live in freedom.
Of all the things to be proud of in the history of the United States, actions taken towards the needs of our veterans is not one of them. After World War I, returnees sprawled around the White House, requesting that they receive aid from the government for fighting for the American cause. However, President Herbert Hoover sent the National Guard to squelch the growing cause. Instead of money or benefits, they were paid in tear gas, prison time, and injury. Surely, things did improve. In the aftermath of World War II, the G.I. Bill provided troops with financial aid for education. However, what good is this legislation when you are confined to a bed or facing grim reminders of the war? But some aspects of veteran care did not improve. In Vietnam, soldiers and veterans, happy (no, more like ecstatic) to be home as a whole, were spat at by anti-war protestors, being taunted with names such as “baby-killers” and such derogatory terms. Although we cannot change the past, but what can we do now?
My role in honoring our veterans is to perform actions that benefit our veterans, to be proud of them for what they have done for us. We can say we honor our veterans, but anyone can say that they honor the veterans. Our actions speak louder than our words. We need to do things that bring benefit to our veterans, which include improving their welfare. We need to state that they're there, by holding more socials to honor them. We need to provide jobs for our veterans when they return home. Sure, benefits are present, but they are not enough to repair the damage that has been done to them, whether physical or mental. They cannot rely on the government for money and such needs. A universal epigram was stated, “If you give a man a fish, you can feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you will feed him for a lifetime.” The government must provide them jobs so they can get their own income and support themselves. But what about those who rely on medical assistance?
We need to comfort them through their ordeal. Send flowers, or be simply there for them. They endure a pain that is considered inconceivable to us, because we did not experience it. They should not be stared at by the public because of the products of their ordeal. We should help them endure obstacles that are beyond their ability. We must act now, for the good of veterans of all branches.
We cannot postpone change. We cannot ignore or deny the mistreatment of our veterans. We cannot suppress their voices or hide them in the recesses of society, away from the public eye. They need to be there, because they are a part of our history. They are the eyewitness accounts of the events that affected our world today.
