Something to think about this Veteran's Day

While no doubt many people are paying attention to today for the uniqueness of the numbers on the calender, I hope all of you take the time to remember today is Veteran's Day. While some of you will no doubt celebrate this holiday by going shopping at the holiday sales or lounging about on a day off of work, I do hope you take the time to honor our 21.8 million living military veterans, celebrate their service and sacrifice.

Over the last ten years, we have been a nation constantly at war, and each of our military men and women have heeded the call courageously and admirably. Over two million soldiers have seen combat, and millions of others, myself included, have served the United States outside of combat. I speak from experience, military service is not easy on the best of days. In addition to the obvious physical dangers presented by combat operations, stress at home is part of the package. Divorce and suicide rates are at record levels. Combat stress and traumatic brain injury numbers are in the hundreds of thousands. Plus, it goes without going into detail about the countless cases of PTSD among the veteran population.

With all of these problems, it is no small worry that needed cuts in the federal budget will effect the Defense and Veteran's Affairs departments no doubt. In addition, whether due bureaucratic oversight or the increasing workload, veteran's face waiting well over 150 days for a disability rating from the VA, or assignment to a mental health clinician with 900 patients. Combine this with the currently struggling economy and hostile job market, and the next few years look to be rough for our returning soldiers and their families.

As any veteran knows, freedom isn't free, but at least in my opinion, veterans shouldn't have to pay for it twice.