Wednesday, June 28, 2023

THANKING VETS FOR THEIR SERVICE ISN'T ALWAYS ENOUGH

By Andrew M. King
NewsBreak Contributor

I’m a disabled veteran, and I absolutely hate when people say, “Thank you for your service.”

I don’t like standing at events where they ask veterans to stand and be recognized. I really don’t like recognition for my service at all. Of course, these are my feelings, and I don’t speak for all veterans, but some feel the same way.

Why???

I was 17 when I made the decision to join the military. I really didn’t feel like I had options. My parents were not rich enough to pay for my college, and I was living a terrible home life where I existed with the threat that when I turned 18, I would be kicked out of the house. Two months after turning an adult, I was aboard a plane heading to San Antonio, Texas, for basic training in the United States Air Force.

The era I served (1993–1997) was supposed to be “safe.” The reality is that the United States is constantly at war. Active combat, cold war, terrorist attacks, we are forever fighting something, somewhere. I won’t get into what I went through. I don’t talk about that. I will say that my service affected my mental health permanently.

I recognize now that I was a player in a much bigger game. You see, warfare makes corporations money. Aircraft, tanks, ammunition, food – you name it. Some corporation is making billions off of contracts for over-taxed everything a service member uses. Corporations and lobbyists control our government. Period. If you think there are “parties” in our system, you haven’t been paying attention.

I look at how underfunded and over taxed our Veterans Administration system is. Recently, there was a vote to fund it even less – and it passed.

The VA funding could decrease by 22 percent harming already injured veterans the most. The bill is most likely going to fail in the senate, but the fact that a party that platforms on “standing by our veterans” passed it in the first place is heartbreaking.

The average daily suicide rate for veterans is 22. That is 22 men and women a day kill themselves. I think that is too high by approximately 22 people. There are many stories about veterans killing themselves in the parking lots of VA clinics because they were denied services.

I myself spent years awaiting decisions on my own disabilities. Six years to be exact. Six years of no income while corporations profited on the military machine daily. It took that long because the VA is tragically underfunded and understaffed.

If you are of the opinion that men and women used by our United States government should be treated with dignity and respect when they return home, don’t arbitrarily thank a veteran. That is the equivalent of saying, “Thoughts and prayers.” It helps not a single one of us.

Organize. Vote. Educate yourself and others. Bang on the doors of friends and neighbors and let them know what is going on.

We fought for you. Now is the time to fight for us!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actions speak louder than words. I agree Veterans should get a smooth medical ride.

On another note I have never understood parents who kick their children out.

For anyone that does not feel compassion for a Veteran, please, just keep it to yourself.

Anonymous said...

Again?

Cry me a river, Montoya.

vets demanding praise and thanks bores us.

You served and we have thanked you often.

enough.


c/s

Anonymous said...

@7:59 AM

agree 1,000%!

I served and I don't go around acting high and mighty, better than other citizens.

Pussies


Anonymous said...

Half these guys
Put on a veteran cap
or a retired US Rmed forces cap
Even a Vietnam cap
And claim they want no praise
And they Quick to fight for the DV license plates
Then pull this BS I hate patriotic country songs
I DONT want to be acknowledged
It's all a Ruse
So what that your service was the highlight of your life
Make up your mind then!
Amargados fracasados

I don't wear a retired teacher cap

I don't get congrats when I wear my university Texas cap

Anonymous said...

When is enough enough?

Anonymous said...

Don't thank anyone for their service unless you know them.

Anonymous said...

To make things worse some VA hospitals are experimenting on veterans as it is better to do trials on them then on chimpanzees.

Anonymous said...

Cameron County Sheriff blames jail overcrowding on low pay

what does low pay have to do with overcrowding?? no se le quita lo idiota
this one really has to go.

ever heard of poor management? of course not he's a house mouse paper pusher.

Anonymous said...


New recruits need help from the veterans.

Tell them to sign for life until they retire.
Or
While in the forces, train to learn a skill that you can use when you exit the armed forces.

Or
Save all the money that you can when you register with the Government.

Expect no help from the government. It is a job. A job with the government.

If you have a young man or a young lady... give them these choices so that they do not enter the armed forces unaware of the situation.

Teachers have a duty to inform their students about all this. Do it in a way that you do not get in trouble. Assign a research project etc connected to your subject: reading, math, science, art, p.e., English history, etc

Anonymous said...

At: June 28, 2023 at 8:47 AM

"I served and I don't go around acting high and mighty, better than other citizens."

Sure you did and everybody clapped when you came back.

And your name tough guy? Anonymous, of course.

Anonymous said...

Local veterans need to help out in the community. We have a lot of senior citizens who could use lawncare and home repairs.

Plus our streets are always ready for a cleaning.

Come on, vets - muster up!!!!


do your part.



Anonymous said...

Be kind Everyone! It is because of the Brave Veterans That Our Country Is Great! Stop Bashing Our U. S. A. Veterans.

Anonymous said...

June 28, 2023 at 7:59 AM

Most all posts that comments against the vets are done by the same idiota that keeps insulting the blog owner and everybody here. Its time este pendejo is kicked out of this blog. Ya estuvo suave pinche mamon.

Anonymous said...

June 28, 2023 at 6:33 PM

Its that mamon that insults everybody here that post against the veterans the blog owner and everybody else. He needs to go.

The RATA elected officials pay this pendejo to post insults here they are trying to close this blog.

Anonymous said...

June 28, 2023 at 7:59 AM June 28, 2023 at 9:06 AM June 28, 2023 at 11:49 AM June 28, 2023 at 6:02 PM

Its like when your parents die do you want some pendejo to say your dad was a lazy bum and an alcoholic and your mama a street walker at skid row?

Anonymous said...

I have no idea who this "I can't talk of my AF experience 1993-1997" it was hell. Por favor! Stop with your pitty BS. There were no engagements during that period. Desert Storm was 1990-1991. Somalia was 1993, but that was an Army Op, not AF. Its people like you that are the first to claim a disability for standing at the chow line for seconds, or a sickbay commando. You play on peoples feeling about your BS. You use them as a punchline, yet you have no shame lining up to collect a disability check that's meant for those that really served and our country is grateful for their service. I am grateful for the 20+ years I served in our beloved Corps and I continue with Public Service giving back to our country. You don't need to wear a patch on your arm to have honor, something you obviously missed in bootcamp. I am a Proud vet, an it was an honor to serve this great country of ours.

Anonymous said...

LIKE IT OR NOT WE HAVE LIBERTY BECAUSE OF OUR GREAT MILITARY PERIOD!!! No judges, No borrachos, no ordinary citizen, no politician, no doctors, no nobodies, NOBODY will pick up a pistol or rifle and help save this country ONLY THE MILITARY MAMONES!!!

AND THIS COUNTRY IS WHAT IT IS THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF THE MILITARY PENDEJOS NOT BECAUSE OF CRY BABIES, YELLOW BELLIES AND TRAITORS.

rita