Remembering and Appreciating Our WWII Vets…

I have great respect and admiration for our nation’s veterans.  As I learn more about my father’s contribution to the WW II effort (he was a physician/surgeon and a major in the Army stationed in the Pacific theatre and post war Japan) and my son’s (a captain in the Army and just returned from Afghanastan) the feeling I have for them and everyone like them is really more than I can put into words

This is one of the reasons why it saddened me when I came across a newspaper article from Craig, Colorado.  This article relates to the fact that the country is losing its World War II veterans at an estimated rate of 740 per day. “We’ve lost a great many of our World War II veterans in the last 10 years,” said Jerry Newberry, director of communications for the Veterans of Foreign Wars national headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. “And as every year goes by, that naturally accelerates.”  The national attrition rate is difficult to track, he said, “because veterans live in every community, every corner of the United States.”

WWII was perhaps the most important period in the history of this country and the world at large. It’s impact is still felt today in all parts of the world and we need to make sure we appreciate our WWII veterans and the freedom all of their accomplishments have allowed all of us.  But then there is the Honor Flight from New England which flew 25 WWII Veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the WWII Memorial for the first time.  That’s refreshing.

As these veterans age, the families need to know about the “VA’s Best Kept Secret.”  The Veterans Aid & Attendance Non Service Connected Pension which can provide up to $23,396 per year for assisted living, nursing home care, or in home care.  It is our country’s way of taking care of those who rose to the occasion to help our country in a very dark time.

Thank you to all of our veterans who have protected our freedom.