Memorial Day: Be A Hero to a Hero
“The dead soldier’s silence sings our national anthem.” Aaron KilbournMemorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Red poppies once offered by disabled veterans on every street corner on Memorial Day were as patriotic as our flag. It would have been disgraceful to refuse them. Today, we rarely see the red paper poppies. But today, wounded and helpless veterans among us need our help more than ever.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about one-third of homeless American adults are military veterans,
How can we help them get the shelter, food, jobs and the physical and mental treatment they need — and have earned?
Pennsylvania: Catholic Social Services of Scranton began work in February to secure funding to build 30 apartments for veterans returning from war, many of them homeless, said Monsignor Joseph Kelly, the Secretary for Catholic Human Services in the Diocese of Scranton. Preliminary plans are to convert the St. Hedwick School into apartments, expand it to accommodate additional units. If the project is approved, veterans would be allowed to stay there for up to 24 months, Kelly said. One great idea.
Michael Blecker, Vietnam veteran, Swords to Plowshares, veterans’ help non-profit group says: There are about 200,000 veteran’s homeless each year. The VA only funds 10,000 beds each year; There is an epidemic if suicides occurring within our armed forces and veterans. 1,000 each year. We sometimes learn of multiple suicides where veterans suffering with crushing Post Disorder, grief, loss or survivor guilt take their lives. All combat veterans MUST receive a face-to-face debriefing with professional mental health staff and that every veteran who seeks mental health services from their local VA receive an appointment immediately if they are in crisis. NOW.
Be a hero; help a hero. Donate to groups that assist veterans; work at vets’ homeless shelters; collect food at social groups or churches for homeless or otherwise needy veterans; help them get clothing, jobs, visit a VFW, or Disabled Vets organization to learn what their needs are in your area. Write your local officials to ask them to help. Call your senators. Ask them to help. Feel good about what you are doing.
Meditation for the Day
To help a hero, step up and be a hero. Lane Branden
Action for the Day
Today, I will be a hero to a hero with a donation to the Disabled Veterans or Paralyzed Veterans of America, or give my time to a group that helps veterans find jobs, homes, food, clothing, medical, dental, or mental health care. .
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