Freedom Is Not Free, But Veteran Benefits Should Be
http://www.workvesselsforveterans.org/for-veterans.html
Our men and women put their life on the line to keep us safe while we get to wake up in our warm and cozy bed each day. They go through tough training and are most of the time deployed somewhere far from there family or loved ones. Moreover, those men and women that join the military come back not as they left. Some come with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and others missing limbs, nonetheless, whether it be mental, emotional, or physical these brave men and women come back different in some way.
The society and government receive these soldiers back with open arms, yet they do not receive a sufficient repayment for their services. We can give them our gratitude and that is good, but they deserve more. For instance, many soldiers leaving the military are now veterans and many of these veterans are denied millions in VA benefits. These veterans return to civilian life, but instead of helping them ease back into it the VA basically tells them “well thanks for serving for us, have a good life” and then sends them on their way. For instance, according to David Phillips “Former members of the military like Mr. Bunn are being refused benefits at the highest rate since the system was created at the end of World War II, the report said.” Not only are veterans that have dishonorable discharges are having a hard time with receiving benefits, but those deemed as having an honorable discharge have a tough time too. Whether honorable or not, these men and women took it upon themselves to join the military and all they get in return is a thank you and maybe a 10% discount at Denny’s. Also, if you are lucky enough to
http://harvardpolitics.com/arusa/the-troubled-history-and-future-of-veterans-benefits/
receive benefits the process of receiving your benefits takes some time as well. Recently, a veteran that I know, who is choosing to stay anonymous, served his country for three years and has been fighting for VA benefits for five years since he has been honorably discharged. He continues to fight for his VA benefits, but they continue to deny him. This is one veteran of many that continue that battle for VA benefits when all veterans should not have had to fight for something that should be rightfully theirs. Moreover, most veterans with disabilities have a chance of receiving benefits, yet a celebrity on screen for playing a soldier receives more than an actual soldier. The veterans benefits system had “started more than a century ago, and in the time since — as new wars stacked on entitlements and new abuses stacked on reforms — it has grown into an unruly tower of regulations. It pays out more than $78 billion each year to nearly five million beneficiaries. But there are also more than 470,000 veterans who have been denied benefits and have appealed. When they do, they encounter an antiquated system where processing cases take years — and sometimes even decades” (Dave Phillips). There is more time spent in fighting for these benefits, and many veterans have and will continue being denied VA benefits when they should automatically be given these benefits. For they have worked and practically put their life on the line.
Why is it that we allow our men and women to come back to have to struggle? The VA and government continue to say our team or our military when really they are not a part of it. They help them when they have them in their hands, but once they are done with them they return them back to civilian life to struggle and risk being homeless. Because many veterans come back physically, emotionally, and mentally scarred. So, why make it harder on them when they can receive benefits that will help them in their daily life?
http://www.leavealegacy.com/veterans-benefits/