Tomah Journal - Printable Version

Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com

Published - Thursday, July 03, 2008

Letter: VA not keeping faith with veterans

I am writing in defense of our veterans who try to get help from the Veterans Administration and are refused medical help; or can’t find a decent job after returning home from serving our country. Is this how our government says thank you for putting their lives on the line for the rest of us back home?

Some are put into nursing homes and when the nursing home closes, they are put out on the street, so to speak.

Our government promises them the “moon” when they want volunteers to join the service, but when they come home from serving our country, they are pushed aside like so many other government projects that don’t work out.

Is this how our government says thanks for a job well done?

Not all veterans are treated this way; some are suffering from drug addiction or alcoholism, having never left the United States to serve overseas or in wartime and are allowed to live at the VA, but those with more serious afflictions are not allowed to. Is this because drug addiction and alcoholism are easier to treat and recovery times are shorter than those with more serious illnesses? What about our older veterans who have served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the more recent and current servicemen who are in need of help and are denied? Put on the back burner so to speak! Yet many who never left the States or saw any action get so many benefits. Who screens these veterans?

Is there something we can do to help our seriously troubled servicemen? Please help them. Don’t let them believe their country has let them down.

Jeanette Berg,

Tomah