Veterans Deserve Our Respect
This Memorial Day I will join veterans and their families in my home town of St. Joseph for the Joint Veterans Committee Ceremony to celebrate the sacrifice of those who fought to protect our nation. As we take time in our own communities to visit the final resting places of those we have lost, and to keep them alive in our thoughts, we must also be mindful of those who have and continue to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
The men and women of the United States military are true heroes, and we should honor them every day. Yet, we hear about troops who do not have adequate equipment, and those who receive substandard care in hospitals like Walter Reed.
We must not forget that our nation is great because members of the armed services are willing to fight for it.
In order to demonstrate our support for the military, we must have a new GI Bill. Senator James Webb, also a native of St. Joe, sponsored legislation that will include educational benefits for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in addition to stipends for housing, program fees, and books. It is hard to imagine where our country would be today without the GI bill that was passed after World War II.
We need leaders in Washington who will stand up to support our veterans, whether they are deployed overseas or back home with their families.
Millions of brave men and women serve their country honorably each year. It is our duty to give them the respect they deserve.
Kay Barnes is a candidate for U.S. representative for Missouri's 6th Congressional District
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