While we have soldiers fighting far from home this Memorial Day, it’s time to honor their service and that of all servicemen and women in our armed forces who came before them.
I served two combat tours of duty in Vietnam commanding an infantry platoon in the 101st Airborne. Having received the Bronze Star with V Device for Valor, I know that lip service doesn’t cut it.
Every day our young men and women in uniform make incredible sacrifices for all of us.
We owe them our allegiance and our respect.
They uphold the principles and beliefs this nation was founded on, principles we too easily forget.
And we do easily forget…
Each of us knows that we have lost almost 2,500 of our nation’s finest soldiers in the Iraq war already, but that number doesn’t tell us the whole story.
Over 17,000 of our troops have been wounded in action. The good news, if there is any, is many more survive today than in past wars. The bad news is they end up living with sometimes unspeakable injuries. In fact, the number of our soldiers who come home with brain injuries is staggering.
We cannot forget them once they come home. Not only do we owe them dignified benefits and support while they serve our nation, but we also owe them the services and programs to help them return to productive lives when they come home.
But for the last several years, veterans groups have seen an administration that has sought to limit services and programs for them.
And it continues…
In fact, the current budget Bush presented to Congress drastically cuts the medical benefits for veterans for 2008 and beyond. The cuts are so draconian that Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas, the top Democrat on the panel overseeing the Veteran’s Administration’s budget, says that if Congress were to accept this part of Bush’s budget, it would amount to gutting the Veteran’s Administration health care program.
We must be sure those in Congress will vote to protect medical care and other services our veterans need and deserve.
According to the Disabled American Veterans organization, Zach Wamp has not been there to protect veterans’ rights.
This is the same Zach Wamp who voted to send some of our best and brightest to war.
According to their scorecard Wamp voted on the issues disabled Americans care about zero percent of the time in 2003, 2004, and 2005. The Retired Enlisted Association says he supported their issues only one-third of the time in 2004.
We need a leader in Congress who doesn’t simply talk about supporting the troops.
Lip service without meaningful actions and support to back it up is demeaning to our troops, our veterans, and their families.
I’m a Fighting Dem running for US Congress in the third district of Tennessee. I’m running a grassroots campaign against a long-term Republican incumbent who has chosen not to honor his term limit pledge of twelve years ago. Please visit my website at http://www.terry06.com and help take America back! I need and very much appreciate your support!
