Repost, but still pretty valid.
I don't know about Veteran's Day where you are, where I live it is mostly
having served in the military, not dying in battle or going to
war- that's Memorial Day or D-Day/other war dates. So the couple people
(around here) who said things like, "Even if you still are alive," or
"Even if you've never seen battle" don't really need to add that on
there, thanks. I made sandwiches for great justice for four long years in
those BDU's and by golly I want my day without a qualifier. Ahem.
Aaaanyway, that's not the point of my post.
Usually when people wish me a happy Veterans Day, (Yes, I was in the USAF
for four years) I thank them and say something like, "May all our
veterans see as little combat as I did." Mostly, to be honest, I get a
little embarrassed at the singing of the songs and the dedication on the
TV and all that... I feel like people make themselves feel better by
celebrating it, but it's not helping the actual veterans. Most vets are
happy enough to tell you a story and have you buy them a beer... or
better yet, write your Congressperson and ask them to look into better
medical care for wounded or chronically ill vets. Or better yet, to look
into helping
the homeless. That's where the really good work is being done.
Believe me when I tell you that "USAF" on your resume is not a guarantee
by a long shot for getting a job, and depending on the field can even be
seen as a liability. The longer you're in, the
more you're losing out on, btw. Add in any battle trauma or
aggravated wounds, and you've got a recipe for disaster and the reason so
many veterans end up living on the streets of the country they served.
From that article: "You can have all of the yellow ribbons on
cars that say 'Support Our Troops' that you want, but it's when they take
off the uniform and transition back to civilian life that they need
support the most," says Linda Boone, executive director of The National
Coalition for Homeless Veterans.
I'm pretty lucky- I spent four years with no more damage than a bad dye
job and some blisters... but a lot of vets aren't snarking it up online
all day in a nice comfy house with two lovely kids and all that. There's
a lot of vets out there that got really, really messed up, and with the
war on, there's probably going to be more.
Usually, I kinda ignore Veteran's Day unless someone else makes a deal
out of it. But this year it occurs to me (albeit a day late) that the
best way you can think a veteran is NOT to walk up and just thank folks
once a year. 1 in 4 homeless people are veterans of the armed
forces, that's a little tidbit they don't show in the shiny
recruiting commercials. That's a pretty healthy chunk of the homeless
population, I think.
So do me a big favor, okay? Next time you get the urge to buy a ribbon,
or donate to a guy on the street with a sign saying, "Vietnam Vet," or
one of the millions of other silly little things that we all do (me too)
to show off to the people around us how much we care- stop. Put the
quarter back in your pocket. Put the ribbon back on the metal wall. Take
that money and send it to your local homeless shelter instead. Help fund
a soup kitchen. Donate your mattress to a shelter or any number of things
to help out the folks in your town to spend a night somewhere in the
warm.
You really want to thank a veteran? Make sure all my vet buddies have two
hots and a cot again.
having served in the military, not dying in battle or going to
war- that's Memorial Day or D-Day/other war dates. So the couple people
(around here) who said things like, "Even if you still are alive," or
"Even if you've never seen battle" don't really need to add that on
there, thanks. I made sandwiches for great justice for four long years in
those BDU's and by golly I want my day without a qualifier. Ahem.
Aaaanyway, that's not the point of my post.
Usually when people wish me a happy Veterans Day, (Yes, I was in the USAF
for four years) I thank them and say something like, "May all our
veterans see as little combat as I did." Mostly, to be honest, I get a
little embarrassed at the singing of the songs and the dedication on the
TV and all that... I feel like people make themselves feel better by
celebrating it, but it's not helping the actual veterans. Most vets are
happy enough to tell you a story and have you buy them a beer... or
better yet, write your Congressperson and ask them to look into better
medical care for wounded or chronically ill vets. Or better yet, to look
into helping
the homeless. That's where the really good work is being done.
Believe me when I tell you that "USAF" on your resume is not a guarantee
by a long shot for getting a job, and depending on the field can even be
seen as a liability. The longer you're in, the
more you're losing out on, btw. Add in any battle trauma or
aggravated wounds, and you've got a recipe for disaster and the reason so
many veterans end up living on the streets of the country they served.
From that article: "You can have all of the yellow ribbons on
cars that say 'Support Our Troops' that you want, but it's when they take
off the uniform and transition back to civilian life that they need
support the most," says Linda Boone, executive director of The National
Coalition for Homeless Veterans.
I'm pretty lucky- I spent four years with no more damage than a bad dye
job and some blisters... but a lot of vets aren't snarking it up online
all day in a nice comfy house with two lovely kids and all that. There's
a lot of vets out there that got really, really messed up, and with the
war on, there's probably going to be more.
Usually, I kinda ignore Veteran's Day unless someone else makes a deal
out of it. But this year it occurs to me (albeit a day late) that the
best way you can think a veteran is NOT to walk up and just thank folks
once a year. 1 in 4 homeless people are veterans of the armed
forces, that's a little tidbit they don't show in the shiny
recruiting commercials. That's a pretty healthy chunk of the homeless
population, I think.
So do me a big favor, okay? Next time you get the urge to buy a ribbon,
or donate to a guy on the street with a sign saying, "Vietnam Vet," or
one of the millions of other silly little things that we all do (me too)
to show off to the people around us how much we care- stop. Put the
quarter back in your pocket. Put the ribbon back on the metal wall. Take
that money and send it to your local homeless shelter instead. Help fund
a soup kitchen. Donate your mattress to a shelter or any number of things
to help out the folks in your town to spend a night somewhere in the
warm.
You really want to thank a veteran? Make sure all my vet buddies have two
hots and a cot again.