Veterans Day

In the United States, an armed forces veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes. Psychological stress is just one of the harmful effects that military action has on men and women who enlist to defend this country and its interests. This group typically represents less than 1% of the general population.

Our society is just starting to recognize the extent to which almost 2.6 million veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts over the past 12 years have been affected physically and psychologically.

Few groups have suffered the ravages of war like Hispanics. While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that 15% of all veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that percentage is more than double (39%) for Latinos. Latinos, who are patriotic and loyal to the country where they were born—or that adopted them as immigrants—account for 13% of the armed forces.

However, many veterans begin a new battle when they return to their communities. Too many are forced to wrestle with the VA’s bureaucracy in order to obtain access to services. The agency itself admits that more than half a million veterans have to wait an average of 165 days for their cases to be processed. We think this wait is outrageous.

We are glad that this Veterans Day will be the last one held during the Afghanistan conflict. Beyond our gratitude to the heroes of a new “Great Generation,” we think that the government must eliminate the obstacles that prevent these veterans from receiving full and immediate care.

As a society, we must do more to reintegrate these patriots by giving them opportunities to study and offering them jobs. And on a day like today, why not, offer a hug to a man or woman veteran and give them a heartfelt thanks.