This Memorial Day let us pause to honor and remember the people who have given their lives in service to our country. We live at a time when, for many of us, fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines are not distant strangers but friends, neighbors, and family members. Personally, I recall Dennis Rando, Dave Weber, and Mark Dostal among the friends and colleagues killed in the line of duty during our Air Force service together. We should honor their sacrifices by pledging to do better by the veterans still with us and by the men and women who still serve and their families.
Virginia has the fifth largest per-capita population of military veterans, but we have only one veterans care center and too few caseworkers to serve the needs of our 780,000 veterans. Between America’s ongoing military commitments and the Bush administration’s continued mismanagement of our National Guard and Reserve force, thousands of Virginians have been pulled from their civilian lives far in excess of anything they could have prepared for, putting great personal and financial strain on families who suddenly find themselves living on military pay. The men and women who volunteer to risk their safety to defend ours have a right to be treated well and fairly. We need more caseworkers and better access to health care services for military veterans. We also need incentives for employers who continue to provide benefits to the families of Guard and Reserve employees while they are serving on active duty. Let us honor those who serve with meaningful policies that make a difference to the lives of the comrades and families they leave behind.
