Honoring Our Veterans: Make It More Than Just a Day
Veterans Day is a symbolic reminder that more than just a day is needed to honor and thank the brave men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. Veterans have made tremendous sacrifices for our freedom, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.
Honoring veterans is not enough. It’s also important to acknowledge the challenges that many of them face. Veterans are at increased risk for a number of mental and physical health problems, including PTSD, TBI, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and chronic pain. They may also face challenges accessing healthcare, finding employment, and maintaining stable housing.
In addition to these general challenges, veterans also face a number of specific challenges, such as toxic exposure, military sexual trauma (MST), and homelessness.
We can do more to support our veterans and address the challenges they face. Here are some specific actions we can take:
- Increase funding for VA programs and services: The VA provides a wide range of programs and services to veterans, including healthcare, housing, and employment assistance. However, these programs are often underfunded, and veterans may face long wait times for services. We need to increase funding for the VA so that all veterans can access the care and support they need.
- Streamline the VA benefits claims process: The VA benefits claims process can be complex and time-consuming. We need to streamline this process so that veterans can more easily access the benefits they have earned.
- Expand access to VA healthcare facilities and services: VA healthcare facilities are often concentrated in urban areas, making it difficult for veterans in rural areas to access care. We need to expand access to VA healthcare facilities and services, particularly in rural areas.
- Address the root causes of homelessness among veterans: Veterans are more likely to experience homelessness than the general population. We need to address the root causes of homelessness among veterans, such as mental illness, substance abuse, and lack of affordable housing.
- Provide job training and placement assistance to veterans: Veterans may face challenges finding and maintaining employment after leaving the military. We need to provide job training and placement assistance to veterans, and encourage businesses to hire veterans.
...due to LinkedIn size limitations, this post is continued on our nonprofit page. Please see the other important actions we can take here: https://lnkd.in/e9c_kVkC
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Retired higher education faculty/administrator at El Camino College/ Cal State Dominguez Hills
1moLove this! Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. I’m sure the new homeowners are just as thrilled to have a place to be housed permently. Thank you Dr. Ford for sharing this with everyone. This very important News! I hope we can continue to see more partnerships where unhoused families can live in peace and comfort. God bless you and everyone involved. Blessings, Dr. Ruth