I have been involved actively in the Veterans community for the last 34 years, 04/04/74 to the present.
And I have done and seen first hand what the Veterans are going through, let alone their families.
As I have been dealing on a daily basis with a lot of the currently separated Veterans, I am concerned and appalled at the situation that faces them today.
Without a doubt they have multiple problems — unemployment, failing marriages, physical and mental health issues and other troubles. How does the Veteran and his/her family deal with these constant issues that cause serious problems? One would think that the Veterans Administration would be there to give a helping hand, right.
Well, I beg to differ.
Just last Tuesday, I read an article in the AARP magazine ,July/August issue, titled “Who’ll Care for Wounded Vet[eran]s?”
What it stated was that many of our wounded young men and women are cared for by their immediate families. This of course can be a real hardship on the families, emotionally and financially.
Being Cut Loose Too Quickly
Some of these families put their lives on hold and do the bulk of the responsibility to make sure that appointments are kept for physical therapy and other needs.
However, it makes no sense whatsoever that the branches of our military are wanting to quickly discharge the wounded. In this way they are no longer responsible for the health care of the wounded Veteran. It now becomes the responsibility of the Veterans oAdministrations health care system with a totally different set of rules and regulations. Those who serve today do it on their own accord.
And since this is the case, then does it not become the responsibility of our government to take care of them? I have long known that we cannot depend on our elected officials for anything but pacifying tactics so that the Veteran thinks, hey, they finally have seen the light. Oh, no, they are dimming the light more and more.
What is it that is wrong with this picture? What is it they do not understand?
There have been 1.64 million men and women who have served in both fronts. Twenty percent have suffered serious brain injuries. And in addition there are thousands of cases of post- traumatic stress sisorder and deep depression.
Not only is the Veteran going through some serious health issues, but also mental issues as well.
What of Politicians?
The families of all our Veterans are dealing with the bulk of this.
Our elected officials — have we really taken a look at how many of our elected officials have had any of their children serve in the military? I think not. So, it’s easy to just turn their heads and not either care, or, they are just blind or better yet “Nimby-minded.”
It is a damned shame that a Veteran who may have a need for medical services and never have used the V.A. health care system today and is unemployed would be turned down for health care just because he or she made a substantial income the year before. It does not make sense.
These rules and regulations must be reviewed and changed to benefit the Veteran. The Veterans served with pride, dignity and honor. They should be treated as such.
We have to also consider those Veterans that don't have families to take care of them, what then?
There is lots that needs to be addressed. We, as a Veterans community, should band together, without conditions, leave our personal feelings behind, and fight for the rights that we, as the elite of our country, have earned through blood, sweat and tears. The stats are large and growing everyday.
What are you, the Veterans, willing to do?
Mr. Romo, is the AMVET Service Representative at the main hospital of the V.A. in West Los Angeles.
