It’s time for the parades again. Once more, it’s time to hang out the flags, strike up the bands and launch into speeches of gratitude for our nation’s servicemen.
On Veterans Day, it seems, everyone loves a veteran.
And then Nov. 12 comes.
The flags get put away. The music ceases. And Congress goes back to doing what it does so well — namely, neglecting the country’s veterans.
We got a reminder of that in September. A government report found that the Department of Veterans Affairs was basing its health-care costs for veterans on 2002 data. Medical costs can rise a lot in four years — especially when a war starts during that period as well.
Will things change with Congress in Democratic hands? Maybe. But don’t bet the house yet. Washington’s track record in this area isn’t exactly the best, despite the lobbying of earnest supporters such as our U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran. What help does come tends to be slow in arriving.
That’s a shame.
It was Emporia that led the way for the nation to honor all its veterans more than 50 years ago. Maybe we need to find a way to step up again and help our leaders remember them for the other 364 days of the year as well.
Veterans Day ends after Nov. 11. Veterans’ needs don’t.
Scott Rochat
Senior Reporter