Veterans are our heroes, they risk their lives to protect us and keep us free. When we acknowledge our war veterans, remember all of them, remember the saying: "We will never forget"
As we celebrate Veterans Day, we focus on their achievements, sacrifices and all they have given to our country to protect our freedom. What seems to be forgotten, however, are those who were lost to the wars, injuries taking away their lively hoods, mind and desire for life. They find themselves on the
streets seemingly invisible to the world, when they return from the war, they are forgotten about and it is assumed life will return to normal for them and their families.
According to a recent study 1 in 4 homeless people are veterans, with more than 1500 from the current war, a disturbing statistic in that these men and women are returning from their tours of duty to no jobs, difficulty in finding work and health care. With an endless list of medical and mental problems they are lost in a system that does not seem able to keep up with the influx of veterans in need of assistance.
Many young veterans find themselves in a catch 22 situation, with the inability to get a job because of no housing and no housing because they have no job, with no alternative they turn to homeless shelters in hopes of finding help to build their future.
The study also notes an issue facing the returning veterans, relating to the older veterans they find a VA clinics. How do you relate to them? Being a veteran myself I have experienced this first hand, as I use the local VA clinic, and when I go for an appointment I am surrounded by men in their 60’s or older, being a 40 yr old woman I receive looks that ask the question, why is someone so young here, I wonder if they understand that at one time they were the young veteran. It’s a generational issue, I’m sure; they do not understand us and we do not know how to relate to them. It is a cycle that will go on for years to come.
On the upside, the issues having to be faced now hopefully will bring to the forefront the need for additional mental health support, support for families to reacquaint themselves to civilian life, and the realization that these brave men and women can not be forgotten.
What a way to celebrate the service of our veterans.
