I would like to respond to, Jack Novell’s Aug. 10 letter to the editor, “I am still waiting for the answer!”
Dear Mr. Norvell,
Thank you for your letter, well written. As the parent of two servicemen who served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am aware of many problems facing the returning wounded and of parents who are also emotionally wounded from having to live day to day wondering if a loved one was going to return. And experiencing the horror of watching another parent(s) having to go through that ultimate experience of losing a loved one. Someday I might write a book on these experiences, but not today.
As I see it, the Veterans Administration has an impossible task that is being done poorly. I pray it can improve its processes to achieve respectability. The fact is the VA is a bloated government program that cannot do much better than today’s performance. It’s a philosophy developed on the state and national level by representatives voted into office “like Murry and Cantwell” that drives the VA’s Red Tape and failure. It’s always the charities that are there for the vets who fall through the cracks, not government. With 23 vet suicides a day the cracks are huge. This is why you won’t receive a response with ideas from Cantwell or Murry because they are part of the problem. They have no “ideas” or remedy outside of new government programs and more taxes. It’s not their fault, that’s just what they are, government people with “a one solution fits all mentality.”
The VA and government do have a role to play in helping the wounded vet and must do a better job. But, it’s the charities that are nimble on their feet, fighting in the trenches, changing direction on a dime to meet needs, on the frontline were the action is taking place doing work the VA can’t do. It’s the charities that fill the gaps helping the vet get through the maze of VA paperwork so they can get the help needed. Some vets may just quit, thinking suicide is a better solution than filling out the mountain of paperwork, sad but it happens.
It’s the charities that have equine and scuba programs for vets with head trauma problems. It’s charities that build homes for the vets that need a home and have no way to ever afford one. Charities that provide the track chairs for the disabled, or provide simple transportation, a healing vacation, food, clothing, gifts at Christmas time. Someone to sit with a wife, husband or child when a loved one is in the hospital. I want to add that in support of these charities are Christian churches who also fill a huge role in giving back. I could go on and on, the needs are many. The VA has its hands full and cannot begin to perform the kind of work these wonderful charities do. So, while you wait on a response form a government person I recommend we all pick a charity and give a little each month and leave government to do what they do and focus on what you can do.
I know a good charity serving our wounded that is local here in Everett with an equine and scuba programs. Look up Heart Beat for Wounded at www.heartbeatforwarriors.org. Rest assured they will respond with solutions.
God Bless our churches and charities,
Charles Farmer is a resident of Snohomish.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.