"We should take this opportunity to re-evaluate how we are treating
our veterans in the present."
Nick Lampson
Soldiers will be honored today, but are basic needs being met? There will be great spending for parades and celebrations, but what about food for his or her families? Monuments will be erected, but where is the funding for appropriate healthcare? Once a soldier, life is altered for the remainder of life.
Veterans stand before us, but we do not see the depth of war upon hearts, minds, and souls. The struggles after serving can be greater than the chaos and devastation experienced in combat. How extent is the support, both mental and physical, when one exits war? The families left behind are rarely prepared for the returning soldier.
When we praise a soldier for bravery, he or she buries deep personal fears and horrific nightmares. Our expectations of a returning soldier to be a superhero adds pressure to perform in ways they are not ready for. So rather than praise today, grasp the soldier's hand, look into the eyes and tenderly give thanks.
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