We ask a lot of our brothers and sisters who serve in the military particularly in times of prolonged conflict such as are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. The things our soldiers have to endure in combat are bad enough but then the service and support they get upon return are shamefully lacking. The Veterans Administration does a lot but it’s vastly underfunded and ill-equipped to provide even adequate care and support for the thousands of returning combat soldiers and their families.

Veterans commit suicide at twice the rate of other Americans. One quarter of our homeless population are military veterans. The rate of returning troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been estimated at between 30 and 100 percent. The range is so wide because the Department of Defense and the VA don’t monitor the mental health of soldiers after they return to their civilian lives. That fact alone is alarming. The truth of war is that it’s effects will be felt by all of society for generations to come. It is vital that we stop looking the other way and admit that we are all responsible for the care and well being of our wounded soldiers and returning veterans.

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