More than words

This Memorial Day was marked by speeches, ceremonies and concerts. The President spoke at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Tombstones around the country were decorated with flags and flowers. Some grave sites were marked with personal gifts.

The words were nice and so were the tributes.

Veterans, however, often need more than words.

They need assistance in returning to civilian life. They need decompression time. They may need medical care.

And, often not stated, they need a national policy that gives them the opportunity to accomplish their mission. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been our nation’s longest. Even so, they are not really finished. That, as it was in Korea and Vietnam, is not due to any failure of those citizens serving.

More than words, veterans–both present and future–need a commitment that their service is important, at least important enough to get the necessary support from all quarters that is required to do the jobs that the nation has given them.

They take pride in their service. The best way for the nation to show pride in them is to give them what they need from the day they enter service, not after they have left it.

Their commitment should be equalled by the nation’s.

That takes more than words.

Gordon Forgey,

Publisher