Screw discounted sporting event tickets, food discounts (gee, could ya spare it?) and other 'feel-good' nonsense coming from corporations. You people want to help? Fine, here's what we veterans need:
- Suicide prevention care
- Educational programs at reduced or no cost
- Jobs
- Job training
- Housing
- Help with utilities
- Help with groceries
Don't make us your 'flavour of the month' and use us to salve your miserable consciences. Did you know 20 veterans every single day commit suicide?
@XaoslordErie I had plenty of relatives on FB who would yell about how much they love our military every 4 July, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. Couldn't be bothered to help my husband with anything, though, because, "He just needs to ask somebody in the government. He's a vet."
@weirdfizz The thing we want most from the government is to keep the promise it made to us back during the Civil War, so yeah, I'm putting a lot of blame on the government, but the businesses and corporations use us for PR purposes ("Look how great we are, we give tickets to veterans!"). When our neighbors act like your relatives did, though, that's mostly just a cop-out. It's Pilate washing his hands. And it stinks that so many treat the veterans in their lives just like that. It's wrong.
@weirdfizz And, BTW, thank you for sharing your experience with me. And a big thanks to your husband for his service and for your family's sacrifices. It's not an easy life.
@XaoslordErie Thank you, too. I've known veterans who felt like even other veterans had forgotten them. You're out here speaking up.