Dear editor,
I am proud to be an American. Though this country is far from perfect, we enjoy freedoms here that are not allowed in a lot of other countries. We enjoy these freedoms because of the women and men in our military. These brave individuals have sacrificed their time, and many times their lives, so that we may continue to enjoy these freedoms.
When these patriots return to the U.S., they should not want for anything. They have given some of the best years of their lives to defend the rest of us; and they did this because they were proud of their country — not because they had to. They should be afforded the best medical care possible with no cost to them. They should be afforded a home with all the amenities without having to worry about cost.
Those who are handicapped in any way should be given the best rehabilitative care available at no cost to them.
Our country should do this automatically. Programs which support our handicapped soldiers and their families shouldn’t have to ask for donations; our government should be providing these things at no cost. Veterans who seek job training should be given that opportunity at no cost to them. Those who wish to further their education should be able to expect free education or training at the institution of their choice.
It is a shame that many of our veterans end up in less than desirable circumstances because the government dos not provide them the benefits they have earned by their service. It is hard to understand how these deserving folks can be left without the things they need to have a full life when they come home. It is even more difficult to understand when there are less deserving individuals who receive so much more compensation from our government.
God bless the military men and women. We should never forget how much they gave to preserve our way of life.
R.W. Lamb, Iola, Kan.
