Help veterans all year
Twice a year we focus on veterans issues, on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Too many veterans are struggling every day just to survive.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is so misjudged. I was present when a mental health therapist told a veteran seeking help that he did not look disabled to her. Writer Peter Berres wrote a good description of invisible wounds and the treatment these veterans receive. When group therapy was ended, it did so much harm to those involved.
The reason given for that was lack of money. One helicopter pilot who served in Korea and two tours in Vietnam has never been recognized as having diabetes from Agent Orange. No member of his family has had diabetes. Is this about money?
Currently, the Caregivers and Omnibus Veterans Health Services Act of 2010 extends support services to family caregivers of veterans who were injured or became seriously ill in military service on or after Sept. 11, 2001.
The Disabled American Veterans charity is working to change this to all veterans. We need to organize as families to protect those we love.
Patricia Carpenter Sellers
Lexington
This story was originally published December 5, 2017 at 7:36 PM with the headline "Help veterans all year."