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“... nothing could be a more melancholy and distressing sight, than to behold those who have shed their blood or lost their limbs in the service of their country, ... without the means of obtaining any of the necessaries or comforts of life ... It was the price of their blood and of your independency, it is therefore more than a common debt, it is a debt of honor, it can never be considered as a pension or gratuity, nor be canceled until it is fairly discharged ...”
— George Washington, unpublished circular letter of farewell to Army leaders, June 8, 1783, Newburgh, New York

In the mid-1960s, we the undersigned attended the University of Dayton together. We studied while others fought and died in Vietnam. Later, many of us served in the military, with several doing tours in Vietnam. Others of us opposed and even protested the Vietnam War.

Since that time, we have pursued successful careers and some are now retired or semi-retired. Some are Democrats, some Republicans and some are independents. Several would welcome being called liberals, others are strong conservatives. We live east, west, north and south. We have stayed friends and at times gather to reflect on the wonderful lives with which we’ve been blessed.

It’s hard to put words to what keeps us together. However, recently we have found that one unifying issue is this: The treatment of our veterans is shameful!

After all of the ceremonies at military cemeteries are done, after all parades have run their course, one thing is clear: From what we know, our government is not doing justice to our veterans — of all wars — who have served in harm’s way; suffered a myriad of physical, mental and emotional scars; and are in need of intensive restorative services from the country they’ve served.

Too many are homeless, in institutions, among the walking wounded or in prisons. Their bodies and souls are scarred and need intensive services — some for the rest of their lives.

We also know that there are tens of thousands of people, from all fields, dedicated to the well-being of veterans.

Many work in various roles within the Department of Veterans Affairs while others serve in allied fields. We salute them too. But they can’t do the job that needs doing without sufficient resources from the federal government. Indications are that the funding is simply not equal to the size of the task.

When a successful organization sets out to make a change — a new product or program — it looks at the total cost over time and including contingencies. It plans all the costs and benefits and assesses the net outcomes over the life cycle of that change.

Is it too much to ask that our government, when it chooses to wage war, do the same kind of long-term analysis? What are the costs, including human costs throughout the lives of those affected, and how are they to be paid?

And if our government has failed to do the necessary forward planning, then is it too much to ask that the government take responsibility for this underestimate and make good on it?

One more thing: You may be tempted to suggest that we can’t afford to meet our veterans’ needs. If we as a nation can’t afford the consequences of war, then the revenue has to be found somewhere or we can’t go to war!

If the cost is more than the current tax base can sustain, that is merely an excuse. Those of us who benefit from national defense efforts, whether we agree with their execution or not, must also pay for the costs of that defense — and that includes the price paid by our veterans.

And as to those in the Congress, regardless of political affiliation, it’s time to step up. You appropriated the funds for Iraq and previous wars. You have the authority from the Constitution to address the needs of those who have sacrificed most in those wars.

This disgrace will persist until each of you is willing to hold your colleagues accountable. No excuses! End this shameful situation and get on with our national duty.

Marty Flahive, Colorado; Phil Lanphier, Colorado; Charles Borns, New Jersey; Dick Burk, Virginia; Bob Bush, Ohio; Don Cressy, Indiana; Joe Diaz, Texas; Ed Meagher, Virginia; Denny Minano, Arizona; George Molaski, Virginia; Dick Rossetti, Georgia; Tom Singer, South Carolina; Dan Steinmetz, Ohio; Marty Zwiren, New Jersey

READER COMMENTS

Stay away from donating anything to the charity/thrift store DAV. It has made the family who came up with the scam billionaires. Only 2% of what they make ondonations and thrift store sales goes to Veterens groups.

Check out the charity you want to help or donate carefully.Their are alot of scammers out their making blood money off of Veterans.

I served in 3 deployments to Vietnam. I also spent 23 years of my life, on and under the oceans of the world, serving America too. The reality is, the US Congress has been very liberal in giving military veterans various benefits, however, the path leading to those benefits is often littered with snipers, WMD, trap-doors, IED's, etc.

Veterans job and contracting preferences with federal government contractors (private and public sector), is a "SICKO" joke. Secy. Chao is our policewoman and she needs a battery of UA's (urine analysis). No enforcement! In Jan. 2004 the U.S. Senate created appropriation legislation requiring all federal agencies to set-aside 3% of their contracts, for businesses owned esxclusively by disabled military veterans. Bush followed suit with his own executive order. To date, "NO" federal agency is in compliance, and the worst scoundrel is the DoD.

Praise "da Lawd". Two months ago, the SBA trotted out the Patriot's Express program, where the feds will back a loan of $150K to disabled vets who want to start. I trot off to the Denver SBA for this bennie, and they pack me off to the COLORADO ENTERPRISE FUND. I introduced myself to these really fine folks, only to discover they would loan me only $25K. Federal backing? I had to expose "ALL" of my financial assets to get in-line for the measely $25K (smoke and mirrors).

The federal backing for this loan has the same malodorous odor of the "coalition" in Iraq-NAM, there is no coalition, just American soldiers. There is "NO" backing on this federal loan program either. I proudly join US Rep. Murtha (USMC Vietnam War hero), "I wouldn't serve in today's armed forces with these guys and their draft-deferments".

I too served in Vietnam. While a number of my friends were killed in that stupid was (Vietnam was never a threat to the US or our interests), I escaped the war and a 20-year career with out any disability. I voted for GW and remain proud that his administration has virtually doubled the VA's budget over the last 6 years. Dems will do nothing to protect this nation from Islamic terrorists or an invasion of illegal aliens, but I was pleased to see that they stepped forward to increase the VA's budget, too. The care our wounded warriors is receiving is second to none. To say that the President or Congress has created a disgraceful situation is bull pucky.

I agree, we need to do more. we should conate money even small amounts to charities that help out veterans especaily those disabled. One is the Wound Warriors foundation which provides services to those injured in Iraq and elsewhere. There are other private organizitions out there that help the soldiers when in need.

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