How to truly honor our Veterans?

Question

Oh Lord, what is there to be said about the people who understand the glory of the self-sacrifice of meting the most powerful evils head-on.

The way to honor our vets isn’t by paying lip service to their heroism on a holiday, but rather to support them in the battles that they, sadly, all to often face alone in the long-term consequences of their service.

My father served in Vietnam (as a Huey engine mechanic, 66-68 just before they started using Agent Orange ), and I remember growing up in the eighties hearing all those stories about military denial on the effects of Agent Orange.

It seems that since then, the generals have gotten more sophisticated about how to side-step controversy/responsibility (with regards to ill effects of our weaponry) in how they cover up the new health-threatening agent; DU (Depleted Uranium) from “Gulf war syndrome”.

“Gulf war syndrome” is even re-occurring in today’s Iraq theater (operation Iraqi Freedom) where DU rounds are used.

It seems that the generals now understand that even acknowledging in anyway the toxicity of DU (even to the point of NOT training our Soldiers/Marines to take precautions from DU contamination), will have liability repercussions.

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One has to wonder, why not just admit that DU contamination causes “Gulf War Syndrome” (instead of blaming it all on the Soldier/Marine him/herself as “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”)?

Question:

1) Is it because the generals fear that care for the afflicted veterans will come at the expense of their big-toy budgets?

2) Is a group of generals afraid that they are going to get demoted? Do they reason that by the time long-term effect from DU contamination are apparent, the Soldier has already left the military and so the moral link between the military and the soldier has been dissolved (by virtue of his/her leaving the military)?

Most importantly:

3) What can we do, as civilians, to make sure that our generals do the right thing by our fathers, sons and brothers in uniform?

Anyone with enough ba**s to question the link the Veterans have drawn between DU use and Gulf-war syndrome can take up the issue with the Veterans themselves:

http://www.gulfwarvets.com/du.htm

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/CNN_Agent_Orange_tame_compared_to_0206.html

Answer 1

You&#039;ve said a lot here, and it needs to be said. Each veteran needs to be honored differently. Some need to stand in front of a crowd and be applauded, other, just need to stand in the company of their other veteran friends just to remember. Still other, such as myself, want to remain quiet and remember in our own way. I built a Veterans Memorial at my community garden here in Cleveland, and everyday I see it. Not many other people do, but I do. It&#039;s my way of saying a silent Thank You. There&#039;s not a simple answer to this, but just keep us in your prayers and don&#039;t give up on us...please!

Answer 2

Amen...Add PTSD to that list.  Interesting that initial deployments to Iraq were set at six months because above that level rates of PTSD rise dramatically ( or so I&#039;ve read..I welcome the chance to read dissenting reports)

Of course now we see deployments getting extended longer and longer.

Individually we can all continue to pressure our Congressional representatives to address these issues.  Pressure on them does work but it can take years.  Don&#039;t just write.  When congress is out of session, and the representatives are home.  Call and make an appointment to see the representative.  You will probably end up with a staffer, but go anyway and bring your talking points.  If they are too busy to meet with you do two things

1) write a letter to the editor of your local paper with all your talking points and note that it is inlieu of meeting with the representative that was too busy

2) Attend all the town hall meetings your representative holds, bring lots of friends.  Each of you can bring up these issues at the meeting.

The key here is to be prepared.  Write down your issues so you do not become flustered.

As a final point some states have added benefits.  California is one.  usually there is a small veterans relations office tucked somewhere in the county government.  Find it,  contact them, use their services.  You have paid for them.

Good Luck