I wrote earlier about what Memorial Day means to me and so many others. I also said we should focus on honoring the sacrifice this day calls attention to, AND resolving to make our country again worthy of all that sacrifice. One thing all of us can do is advocate for veterans. Today VoteVets is on social media doing just that!
In his second Inaugural address Lincoln cited the duty to “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, his widow and his orphan.” That is the mission of the Veteran’s Administration. For all their flag pin wearing, faux patriotism the Republican Party in my lifetime has fought what Lincoln, one of the original Republicans set forth to do. They have prevented the VA from being fully funded and used any excuse to cut services. Oh, they PRETEND to care and point to efforts to outsource Veteran’s medical care to the private sector but the goal has been and remains the utter destruction of the VA health care system.
As Alternet tells us in an article’s headline today what the GOP is doing is a “Slap in the face” to Veterans. Specifically it addresses the fact that despite backlash to the massive cuts in personnel the administration is planning Team Trump and his GOP enablers in Congress are pressing ahead. So yes, this seems like a really good day to remind the public of what’s going on. Lot’s of people will be on social media making plans and sharing their ‘this is where I am/what I’m doing’ stuff so it seems like a good place to raise awareness of WHY they have today off work and more importantly what’s being done to those who gave so much of themselves that today became a national holiday:
“Gutting VA will result in delayed appointments and substandard care, leading directly to more veteran deaths. In fact, as reports and internal documents now prove, Elon Musk’s wrecking ball is causing systems to fail, putting veterans at risk,” said Kayla Williams, Iraq Veteran and senior policy advisor at VoteVets, in a post on X. “It’s a slap in the face to all who have worn the uniform in defense of our nation.”
Kamala Harris isn’t the only person who had a mom who would say ‘if you don’t like something then DO something about it’ and today VoteVets is doing. On a day where what those who’ve served, their sacrifice is being honored. Personally it’s gotten me to leave voicemails and emails with my Congress Critters. And since the little P.O.S. is probably back home in the town where we both were raised tomorrow I’ll call his local office in the hopes he might actually be there. And rip him a new one over this. So yes, today you can take a few minutes to DO something to honor the people buried under those headstones.
Well, I’ve suggested a way to do something meaningful. I hope it prompts those who’ve read this to join VoteVets’ effort today.
Thank you for your service Denis.