Everyone loves a veteran. Especially a politician.
On Veterans Day, that pride and appreciation of those who stood up and did their duty when asked or stepped forward to volunteer will be on display in many corners. Flags are flown and speeches are given. Ceremonies are held, and small shows of gratitude are offered.
Too often, though, our leaders do not step up to serve veterans the way the veterans served us. Instead, they use them as set dressing. They can be a prop for a photo opportunity or the perfect backdrop for a campaign promise.
It is a disgusting habit that politicians need to stop using only to score points with voters. It belittles the men and women who wore the uniform.
It isn’t specific to one party. As with so many political behaviors, while the ideologies are diametrically opposed, the means are all too common. Politicians of all stripes are happy to share Veterans Day posts on social media, show up for a speech at a veterans event and pose for a picture.
The problem is how those other people in the picture spend their non-Veterans Day hours.
There can be long and frustrating phone calls trying to arrange medical care through Veterans Affairs providers. There can be years of struggles with mental health. There can be cold days on the streets or uncertain nights in homeless shelters. There can be a haze of substance abuse that turns time into a blur.
These are just a few of the issues some veterans face after leaving the military — along with food insecurity, suicide and just transitioning from surviving a war zone to being home again.
None of these things is made better by speeches, flag-waving and grip-and-grin photos a politician will use in a campaign ad.
A politician who supports veterans will offer solutions instead of platitudes. A leader who values veterans will prioritize their welfare. A public servant who is committed to veterans does what is in their best interest, regardless of which party makes the proposal.
Most important, this shouldn’t happen just on Veterans Day. It should be an everyday responsibility, whether there are cameras around to record it or not.
— The Tribune-Review (TNS)
