Honor

Believe it or not, I'm terrible with words that matter.  And probably with words that don't matter, but when it's something I care about the most, I get all twitterpated and worry that my passion or caring won't be adequately portrayed in what I write.  Veteran's Day is one of those occasions.  Here's what I wrote last year:

I believe every day should be Veteran's Day. Not the day off part, but the honoring the men and women who have served (and are currently serving) this country part.

I've discussed repeatedly on this site the danger young hockey players face from head injuries, but it's nothing compared to what some of these returning veterans and their families are facing.  Whether or not you believe this war in Afghanistan and Iraq is fair or right or whatever, these men and women deserve the best care they can get.  And in this nation that claims to be the best country in the world, we are falling short of providing for those who have protected our rights so valiantly.  Veterans returning to the States are coming back not only with high levels of PTSD, but the veteran suicide rates are at record highs.  What an immense tragedy.

Off that soapbox, many of us feel helpless, but there are ways to help, the Disabled American Veterans, Freedom is not Free, Intrepid Fallen Heroes, or the National Military Family Association.  The organization Any Soldier walks you through how to send care packages to any soldier serving overseas.  Xerox sponsors Let's Say Thanks where you pick a card online, fill it out electronically, and Xerox will send it to any military personnel stationed overseas.

From GOOD:

• There are approximately 25 million veterans in America today, according to the Vietnam Veterans of America, plus about 37 million dependents of living and deceased veterans. Together, they compose about 20 percent of the United States.
• The unemployment rate for veterans was 13.3 percent in June 2011, and for males age 18 to 24 who served in the modern era, that rate is even worse: 21.9 percent. To give those figures some context, keep in mind that the national unemployment rate is a "staggering" 9.1 percent.
• The poverty rate for veterans climbed to 7 percent in 2010, according to a new Senate report [PDF]. There are now 1.4 million veterans living below the poverty line and 1.4 million others living barely above it. More than 12 percent of soldiers who served post-9/11 are poor.
• According to estimates by the Veterans Administration, about 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. And throughout the course of a year, about twice that many will experience homelessness. Of the homeless veterans, a full 56 percent are either black or Latino.
• Though the government is trying out new programs to combat post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD remains a problem for tens of thousands of veterans. From 2003 to 2008, 40,000 troops were diagnosed with PTSD, which doesn't count the thousands of others stricken with it from Vietnam, WWII, and other engagements.
• Besides PTSD, veterans also come home afflicted with serious depression and head injuries. The RAND Corporation found in 2008 that 19 percent of returning U.S. soldiers reported having possibly received a traumatic brain injury in combat. Beyond that, one in five said that they were experiencing either PTSD or major depression. Sadly, only about half of those suffering with depression said they'd sought out help for it.
• With untreated depression abounding in the veteran community, suicide has become a big problem. In 2009 and 2010, more enlisted soldiers and vets killed themselves than died in combat. The suicide rate among veterans is three times higher than the national average, and the Vietnam Veterans of America estimates that about 1,000 people per month [PDF] try to kill themselves while under Veterans Administration care.  (GOOD--Eight Interesting, Shocking, or Sad Things You Should Know About Our Veterans)

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

- George Washington 

We're supposed to be the best nation in the world but how veterans are treated in this country (by the government, see the points put forth at the GOOD article) is a disgrace.  Exhibit #1:

I know that if I wasn't in my current line of work I would probably be doing something in the field of Veteran's Affairs, it's that important to me.  Even if one doesn't agree with the current wars (I do not), I believe it's an American responsibility to honor and support our military forces.  Every day.  Not just on Veteran's Day and Memorial Day.

Some other ways you can help via The Political Notebook:

In honor of Veterans Day, one way to acknowledge might be with a donation (even a little one) to a veterans advocacy or support organization. My choice organization is SWAN (Service Womens’ Action Network), which does some amazing advocacy and policy work supporting female veterans. They are at work engaging with policymakers and garnering support for related legislation or for parts of certain bills (full list here). They are also involved with two lawsuits: one in conjunction with the ACLU to fulfill a FOIA request to the Pentagon for records related to reports of military rape and sexual assault, the other a federal suit (Cioca et al v. Rumsfeld and Gates) filed on behalf of 16 military victims of sexual assault. The organization also provides peer support. There are also any number of really important veterans organizations to choose from. Here are a few possibilities.

• IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America)

• Warrior Writers

• Wounded Warrior Project.

• Disabled American Veterans. 

• Iraq Veterans Against The War. (Support the troops but not the war? This particular organization has been heavily involved in Occupy Wall Street movements across the US.)

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In other news, it IS game day.  The boys are in Medicine Hat to take on Emerson Etem and the Tigers.  They sit at the top of the Central Division with a 14-5-1 record and a .725 winning percentage.  That Hunter Shinkaruk is pretty good too.

Meanwhile us Ams fans are sure hoping the offense is really waking up, especially after that great comeback in Kootenay.  The Herald points out an interesting Adam Hughesman factoid:

Hughesman has won a regular-season game in every barn in the WHL and scored a point in all but three.

Lethbridge's Enmax Centre is one of those barns. Calgary's Saddledome is another (Tri-City plays there Jan. 29), as is Swift Current's Credit Union iPlex, which will end up being the only blemish on Hughesman's otherwise brilliant career, as the Americans have no games there this season.

"I didn't know that," said Hughesman, who has scored a goal in 15 of the WHL's 22 rinks. "Personal goals are nice, but it's more important that we get the three wins on the road."

The odds are on Hughesman's side to get a point in Lethbridge. Of his 104 career goals, 46 have come on the road, as have 62 of his 162 assists.

"Adam has been very consistent since he was 16 right through now," Tri-City general manager Bob Tory said. "He has had a tremendous career. He probably doesn't get the recognition in the league he truly deserves. He does a lot in the community and he cares about his teammates, which is a special quality."  (Herald)

Note the start time is 6:30 for us in the Pacific timezone, so pre-game at 6:15.  Come join the liveblog if you're so inclined.