Veterans

Today is Veteran’s Day, where the United States honors those who defended our country in active duty and who are now retired. Veteran’s Day is always on November 11, for the reason being that the armistice ending WWI was signed at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, on the 11th month in 1918. While many veterans are thanked for their service when they return home, recent veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan face many troubling issues. For many soldiers returning from war overseas, it’s incredibly difficult to assimilate back into civilian life. Many return home because of injuries that prevent them from fighting on the battlefield, and if they don’t have family that can take care of them they are faced with a really difficult situation. A significant amount of veterans return home suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and undergo treatment at various Veterans’ Hospitals across the country. Veteran Hospitals in comparison to other civilian hospitals are in very poor conditions, and they will only get worse when more and more soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan return home. According to ajc.com, 49% of the 1.2 million veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have obtained VA healthcare from 2002. Because of the state of the economy, more veterans are losing their healthcare and turn to VA healthcare supported by the government instead.

While America clearly cares for its veterans by providing them with special healthcare benefits, the care they are receiving isn’t the best it could be. Some think that the government should spend so much money on special care for veterans, but I don’t think they aren’t spending enough. It is in American culture to care for our veterans to such a great extent, and it’s one aspect that, in my opinion, makes us unique. Americans will always honor the soldiers who fight to protect our freedom, so I think it’s necessary to give them the utmost care.



http://www.ajc.com/news/rising-tide-of-veterans-736523.html