It was called “Armistice Day” when Pres. Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11, 1919 as the United States’ version of what other countries called a “Remembrance Day” – a day to remember those members of the armed forces killed during World War I, the misnamed “War to end all wars.”

But unlike in other countries, Armistice Day became a day to remember and honor all American veterans, living and dead, for their service to our country.  Memorial Day was our day to remember and honor those American servicemen/women who gave their lives in the line of duty.  In 1938 an act of Congress made November 11 of each year “Armistice Day” and a legal holiday; and in 1954 the name was officially changed to “Veterans Day.”

Currently there are approximately 23 million living American veterans.  Roughly 1.2 million are World War II vets, although they are dying at the estimated rate of over 600 each day.  Another 2.8 million are Korean War vets.  The largest number of living veterans, approximately 7.8 million, served during the Vietnam War, although veterans of the “Gulf” wars (August 1990 to the present) number more than 5.2 million.  Significantly, an estimated 3 million of those living veterans are receiving compensation for service-connected disabilities.

We’ve been fighting wars for more than a decade, and the cost of providing health care and disability benefits for our veterans continues to climb.  Last year the Dept. of Veterans Affairs spent approximately $48 billion on disability benefits alone, and this year’s costs are expected to hit the $57 billion mark.  That’s four times the $15 billion spent in 2000.

And that number will continue to climb because we’ve made so much progress in treating wounded soldiers that some of the most seriously wounded can now survive – albeit often with a service-connected disability.  Some 630,000+ veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan have full or partial disabilities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  And those disabilities include traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders that were either undiagnosed or neglected in earlier generations of veterans.

As a result, the backlog of overdue unprocessed disability claims is about 400,000, down from the 600,000 outstanding unprocessed claims as recently as March of this year.  But hundreds of thousands of new claims continue coming in from veterans who have done their duty to their country.

And we must do ours.

Irrespective of one’s political views about war, we as a country owe those veterans the best care and benefits available as a debt of honor.  As former Wisconsin congressman David Obey stated:

“This country owes them all a debt of gratitude. The down payment on that debt is making sure that we live up to Lincoln’s charge: to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”

That’s going to mean more money and a more efficient Veterans Administration, just for starters.  And fewer wars would certainly help.  Unfortunately, that can’t and won’t be accomplished today.

But if you know any veterans, you can at least offer a simple “Thank you for your service.”

And then write your congressman and voice your support for making sure all our veterans, and especially those who were injured while in harm’s way, get the help and support they have earned with their blood.

Robert J. Trizna

Editor and publisher 

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