On a day when many banners are declaring, “Support Our Troops,” some military veterans are saying that phrase has lost its meaning.
“We?ve become pawns in the political chaos, and that phrase means what politicians want it to mean,” said Thom Unkle, chairman of the United Veterans of Anne Arundel County, during a Veterans Day ceremony Sunday at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.
Unkle, who helped design the county?s veterans commission, said federal officials are not providing enough funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs for adequate medical and support services.
He pointed at the fiasco at Walter Reed Medical Center early this year, where veterans and reservists were not receiving timely treatment while the facility?s conditions were substandard.
“Politicians can support the troops by putting words into action ? beef up the VA process, increase training and increase funding … beyond just keeping pace with inflation,” Unkle said.
While veterans noted the public?s support for the troops has increased, the same push for veterans? support, especially for disabled and aging veterans, does not exist in the federal government.
“More needs to be done because as veterans get older, their disabilities and treatments don?t get any better,” said Pasadena resident Paul Downry, a 74-year-old Marine veteran.
And with the veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars aging, the need for better medical and support services has surpassed budget allocations, veterans said.
Even current enlisted soldiers believe more needs to be done.
“I think people are underestimating what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. We may not be fighting in the jungle like in Vietnam, but what we are doing now is real,” said Spc. Efrain Santiago, a 31-year-old Puerto Rican stationed at Fort Meade.
Rep. John Sarbanes and Sen. Benjamin Cardin were on the dignitaries list but sent representatives instead.
Unkle said Sarbanes, who has introduced pro-veteran legislation, has been an ally to veterans. Sarbanes? representative said he could not comment on the matter.
Unkle?s call for action didn?t stop with lawmakers, putting the responsibility on veterans to effect change.
“Veterans are apathetic. They say it?s someone else?s responsibility,” Unkle said. “They need to write to their congressmen and say we want this to stop and we want this to change.”
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