Veterans Issues

Supporting Our Troops

As much as one in every six soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan exhibit symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While the Veterans' Administration is the primary resource for veterans' care, many veterans elect to "tough it out" and don't always avail themselves of services that are available to them through the VA. That means it's up to us to do the right thing on the local and state levels.

Just as they stood up for us over there, we need to stand up for them over here...

Our veterans are at elevated risk of a whole host of adverse consequences from their military service: alcoholism, spousal abuse and depression, just to name a few. Just as they stood up for us over there, we need to stand up for them over here by providing resources like job training, mental health services, and medical benefits to help combat the additional battles they will face when they return home.

It is our duty to help members of our armed forces to rejoin the lives they left behind. These young Americans went to war with commitment and resolve. But some of them have returned physically and emotionally scarred and disabled in ways that make resuming the life they left behind virtually impossible.They risked everything for their country and ask for nothing more than a reasonably fulfilling life upon returning home.

Our young men and women of the armed services are returning to reenter a very difficult job market. We must provide swift job training, mental health services, and medical benefits to help combat the additional battles they will face when they return home.

We must also never forget the soldiers still fighting and keep them in our hearts everyday. There are countless families waiting for loved ones to return and they need the support of our community and leaders to continue to remain strong here at home.