Every
Veterans
Day, it may be worthwhile to take some moments to acknowledge our debt to those who have worn the U.S.
uniform
. It would be even better to make a longer-lasting commitment.
The commitment could come in any number of forms, ranging from attitudinal to more overt action. An entry-level commitment could involve an intellectual-emotional investment in understanding, at a deeper level, the actual experiences of veterans’ service, triumphs, and sacrifices. Just the time it takes to read one full book about service personnels’ experiences can bolster appreciation in a way that can lead to salutary action.
THE CONTRACT WITH THE MILITARY
In that light, for POW experiences, some good ones are,
for World War II
, Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand;
for Korea
, Cold Days in Hell, by William Clark Latham Jr.;
for Vietnam
, When Hell Was in Session, by Jeremiah Denton; or, for a wonderful new one (published earlier this year) with a unique angle, this one
about the wives and families
awaiting the return of POWs, Captured by Love, by Greg Godek and Col. Lee Ellis. That last one reminds us, as it should, that the loved ones of those in uniform share in the service and merit our thanks as well.
Of course, there’s far more to service than risking and experiencing brutal captivity. For a gripping account of
how the most elite of fighters become so elite
, there’s Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior, by Rorke Denver with Ellis Henican. Or,
for well-celebrated heroism
, there’s No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden, by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer.
And so many more. But, of course, while reading can bolster admiration for those who serve, the need exists for more concrete action on their behalf. Perhaps the action can take the form of support for legislation. For example, in the past decade, Congress has
significantly expanded
the ability of veterans to receive medical care in the private sector rather than only at Veterans Affairs facilities, but
why not make the freedom almost absolute
? And in 2022, Congress passed
the PACT Act
to provide more treatment for veterans who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances, but why did it
exclude those
who served during the 1980s or
at nuclear sites
, and shouldn’t that oversight be fixed?
Or, for something simpler than pushing legislators to act, supporters of veterans can take part in
Warrior Call Day
on Nov. 12 to aid veterans with depression and help deter suicides. Or maybe get involved with
local veterans service centers
, some of which
face backlash
, rather than welcome and cooperation, from existing behemoth mental healthcare providers that want to
maintain monopolies on public dollars
.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
And if financial contributions are your thing, the tremendously helpful group CharitiesForVets.org assesses which veterans aid groups actually put the vast bulk of their donations into
legitimate veterans services
rather than using the money for the organizations’ own “overhead” expenses. Hint: Only about half of them are efficient at putting the money to good use.
As then-President Teddy Roosevelt said more than a century ago, “A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.” In any way we can, we should all strive to ensure that giving veterans a square deal is not just a one-day nod of the head but an ongoing commitment. Veterans Day is a worthy celebration, but it should be the start, not the be-all and end-all, of how this nation honors the men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom.
