Following World War I, what we now call Veteran’s Day emerged under its original name, Armistice Day. It commemorated the conclusion of the Great War at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Over the decades, the observance has expanded to recognize all military conflicts and to celebrate the dedication and sacrifice of every veteran who has served to defend our freedoms.
Yet in contemporary America, much like other societal concerns, politicians and citizens alike offer abundant rhetoric about honoring veterans—the conversation flows freely about acknowledging our obligation to them, but meaningful action remains scarce.
The Veterans Administration crisis exemplified this failure, with accounts of veterans perishing while awaiting VA medical appointments. This scandal, however, merely scratched the surface of how our nation and its leadership in Washington have abandoned our veterans.
A recent Boston Globe article about homeless veterans dying from drug overdoses in the region represented some of the most troubling journalism we have encountered. It exposed how those who have exited military service with profound emotional and physical wounds are essentially abandoned to survive on their own.
This Veteran’s Day, we call upon our readers to do more than express gratitude to our veterans. Take action by emailing our representatives in Washington and demanding they allocate sufficient resources for the vital programs and services our veterans urgently require.
It is deeply troubling that certain politicians resist modest tax increases that would fund these essential veteran services—services owed to those who risked everything to preserve the freedoms that allow some to accumulate vast wealth without acknowledging their debt to those who sacrificed to protect our nation.