The Fourth of July — the day that America celebrates its birthday and independence from the British empire, is marked each year with parades, cookouts and fireworks. It’s even the day I celebrate my own birthday.
But after 14 trips to Baghdad as a Department of Defense civilian, I also recognize that for our veterans, fireworks resemble the sounds of war. In fact, it’s impossible to hear fireworks and not think about rocket and mortar attacks.
For those who’ve spent any time in Iraq or Afghanistan or any other combat zone for that matter, you’re waiting to hear “Incoming! Incoming! Seek shelter immediately” over the public address system. And during the spring of 2008 in Iraq, we heard that warning several times a day and even in the middle of the night, as we all stumbled out of bed to seek better overhead shelter, the sounds of rockets and mortars in the distance.
But for many of our veterans, the real battle begins when they return home. Reintegrating back into society isn’t always seamless and smooth. It’s very difficult, and it’s why we are seeing a higher number of cases of domestic abuse, alcohol and substance abuse, and suicide. Yes, suicide.
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 20 veterans commit suicide each day in America. But that’s not all. The Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that 39,471 veterans are homeless and on the streets on any given night.
In the land of the free and home of the brave, this is unacceptable. These brave men and women served us, and now it’s time for us to serve them.
Since the Revolutionary War, we have lost more than 1.1 million Americans on the battlefield. But as Gen. George S. Patton once said, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.” America isn’t going to be made great. America is already great because of their generous service.
On this Fourth of July, may we all think of ways that each of us can serve our veterans. And may the fireworks remind us of how great our country truly is, and that freedom isn’t free.
Mark Vargas is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. If you would like to write an op-ed for the Washington Examiner, please read our guidelines on submissions here.
