Supporting Veterans Is A Worthy Cause

There are many who could use help

Veterans served valiantly for the cause of freedom

Finances are important in the day to day lives of everyone in the world. It is difficult to get along without enough money. People who have money are often trying to determine ways to use their money. Giving some away to help others is a good way to use extra money. Helping veterans is a worthy cause.

Finding ways to use the money one has efficiently and effectively is wise. People are often looking for the means to earn more money, but they might be looking at ways to spend the money they have.

As Veterans’ Day approaches, it is a good time to remember those who served valiantly in defending the freedoms of the United States of America. They helped to preserve liberty and to bring democracy to the rest of the world. Supporting veterans is a good practice for anyone.

Some years ago while we were visiting San Francisco, we were at Fisherman’s Wharf. As it was time for dinner, we went to a nice restaurant. It was part of a chain with which we were familiar. When we went inside, we were told that we would have to wait half an hour for a table. That seemed strange since there were many empty tables. The hostess indicated that they were holding those tables for reservations.

As we waited for a table, we watched the people come in for their reservations. Some came in groups and showed a military veterans’ ID. Many men appeared to be homeless. As we saw some of these men leave, they were treated with the utmost respect by the restaurant personnel. Some said as they offered their thanks and left, “See you next year.”

This restaurant made a practice of honoring veterans on the yearly observance of Veteran’s Day. They happily hosted any American veteran to a nice dinner on that day. Even though some of the patrons were obviously homeless and unkempt, they were treated kindly. It was obvious that they had been going there for years on that special day to take advantage of the free meal at a nice restaurant. It was a kind gesture for people who had served their country in the military.

We have noticed since that time that there are other restaurants which have joined in this practice of serving free meals to veterans on what should be a special day for them. Although anyone with a veteran’s ID card is eligible for the free meal, it seems geared to the less fortunate for whom their service to their country and subsequent problems have caused them to be unemployed or even homeless.

It is a sad state of affairs when people give so much for their nation and then they find themselves without a home in which to live and without the means to care adequately for themselves. There seem to be many senior citizens who are in this state after serving, many in the Vietnam War.

There are some younger veterans as well living in this manner. They deserve better.

There are many ways to support veterans, the most notable possibly being to donate money to causes and groups which support veterans. There are stories of people who give up first class seats on airplanes to service personnel in uniform or to veterans if they know of them. Others stop and talk to wounded warriors and thank them for their service.

During World War II when Japanese Americans and immigrants were incarcerated in what have become known as American concentration camps, they faced extreme discrimination and hatred. After initially being refused the opportunity to serve their country because they had been reclassified as non-citizens or enemy aliens, Japanese American young men were called to service. There was a segregated unit established in the U.S. Army called the 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Battalion. The young men were requested to volunteer or were drafted. Those veterans are now in their nineties or have passed on. They served with patriotism when there was extreme racism against them and their families.

They, along with all veterans, are deserving of our recognition and thanks.

Veterans might need help, and they should be given help if needed.

[Source: The Japanese American Story As Told Through A Collection of Speeches and Articles, www.thejapaneseamericanstory.com]