Every day should be Veterans Day

With Veterans Day coming up, this is the perfect time to take a minute to thank all the veterans who have volunteered to dedicate a portion of their lives to serving our country. The main purpose of the military, of course, is to defend national security, promote peace, and protect the freedoms of the citizens of the United States. However, the military also serves in global peacekeeping efforts to address conflicts, protect human rights, and create stability in areas affected by violence and political instability, such as Mali, Western Sahara, the Sinai Peninsula, Lebanon, South Sudan, and the Republic of Congo. They are also involved in humanitarian missions which address immediate needs such as food, water, shelter and medical care, in the Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh, and Sudan.

Serving in these countries, military personnel face harsh winter conditions in the Ukraine, and extreme hot temperatures in several of the other countries. Generally, they do not have reliable power and are faced with possible malaria from mosquitos.  They often have limited food supplies and must rely on MREs, (prepackaged, ready to eat meals). 

Of course, there are those who have served in combat zones where the conditions are even harsher. They often go for months being unable to contact family and friends, and miss the funerals of loved ones, the birth of their children, and other important life events, not to mention the emotional effects of the carnage of war.

After learning the conditions of military life, I am super appreciative for all the service men and women, and the veterans whose lives have been dedicated to defending our country and the citizens of oppressed countries. Theirs is a sacrifice I have taken for granted.  While I am enjoying a frozen wine cooler in a warm, relaxing bubble bath, they are sleeping on the hard ground in harsh and uncomfortable conditions.     

When service members rejoin the “real” world, many of them have been permanently negatively affected by their service. They should be feeling pride and satisfaction on an amazing job well done, along with the appreciation of the community from which they came, but often that is not the case. 

Many veterans have health issues, and may experience chronic pain, sleep disorders, mental health disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss, and illnesses from toxic exposure. Many veterans, trained to do a specific job in the military, may face barriers to employment. They may also face challenges with loneliness, lack of familiar routine, lack of financial support and difficulties reconnecting with their families, often resulting in divorce. They may become homeless, generally due to the mental health difficulties they experience, and the suicide rate among veterans is much higher than for non-veterans.

What can we do to honor our veterans?  Suggestions from Alishia Levasseur, Secretary of the American Legion Auxiliary of Rhode Island, suggests that we proudly display our American Flag, attend Veterans’ Day Memorial Services, and, most of all, THANK a veteran for his/her service.

Linda Krogg from the Providence Veterans’ Administration reports that the VA is in desperate need of food and laundry detergent for their food bank.  R. I. Veterans are also in need of Velcro sneakers sizes 8 ½ to 12 ½. For those who would like to volunteer personally, they are always in need of someone to provide transportation door to floor, meaning picking a Veteran up at his/her front door and accompanying them to whatever floor their medical appointment is on. 

For organizations like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTAs, and churches, a thoughtful option could be to reach out to a local nursing home to request a list of resident veterans and then prepare gift bags as tokens of appreciation for their service. Each bag could include items such as large-print crossword puzzles, a deck of cards, large-print word searches, cozy socks, and sugar-free chocolates, accompanied by a personal note expressing gratitude. These gifts can be provided any time throughout the year because honoring veterans should be a year-round gesture, not limited to Veterans Day or the Christmas season.

Let’s come together to ensure that those who have dedicated part of their lives to protecting our country and standing up for others' rights are truly appreciated for their selfless efforts. Every day should be Veterans Day!