Published: November 10, 2009 03:57 pm      

Veterans Day — 11/11/09

Schools across Kentucky will honor those who served

A few years ago an “In Your View” letter published on this page sharply criticized area school districts for having classes on Veterans Day. But schools throughout Kentucky have found a much better way of observing this holiday than dismissing classes. Instead, they use the day for special programs honoring those who have served our country in the military.

Every public school in Kentucky will be doing something special today to honor veterans. How do we know? They are required to by a state law approved by the Kentucky General Assembly a few years back. The law doesn’t specify what kind of recognition of veterans they have — only that they have one. As a result, the observances vary greatly throughout the state — from moments of silence during the morning announcements to formal programs attended by the entire student body.

If, as the letter writer suggested, schools were dismissed for Veterans Day, we doubt if many of the students would spend much — if any — of their day off from school remembering our veterans. Instead, it is far more likely that they would be spending the day hanging around with friends at the malls, taking in the Veterans Day sales, sleeping late, watching movies or playing video games.

For the record, the first Armistice Day — the original name for this holiday — was on Nov. 11, 1919, the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I. At that time, that war was still thought to be “the war to end all wars.” Optimism abounded throughout the land.

Armistice Day became a U.S. national holiday in 1938 and in 1954 was renamed Veterans Day to honor all veterans. With the end of the draft and the passing of the World War II generation, military service is not the common denominator in American life it once was.

There are currently 23.2 million veterans, down from a peak of 28.6 million in 1980. There is no danger of those numbers dwindling to a point where the nation begins to overlook its veterans. We spent over $84 billion last year on veterans, mainly for pensions and medical benefits. That is certain to continue.

On this Veterans Day, we are encouraged that the Obama administration — specifically Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and Defense Secretary Robert Gates — have undertaken several worthwhile initiatives.

The two have pledged to attack the cumbersome and complex paperwork needed to process veterans’ disability claims, and in so doing, reducing the huge backlog at the VA. Funding for the treatment of the side effects of the nature of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan — mostly traumatic brain injuries and mental health issues — has been doubled.

Shinseki has also vowed to end veterans’ homelessness in five years. There are an estimated 130,000 homeless vets. That’s down substantially from 195,000 six years ago, but Shinseki doesn’t believe any should be out on the streets.

President Barack Obama has signed an executive order intended to increase the federal government’s employment of veterans, and Congress approved a law to make the VA’s funding more secure and predictable.

Veterans complain, with some justification, that publicity about veterans tends to focus on those with problems. Most veterans do not have problems. America’s post-World War II economic boom was fired by the millions returning from the armed services with new skills, confidence, discipline and the ability to work with others and within an organization. Today’s newly minted vets are no different.

Take a few minutes today to thank a veteran for his or her service, and if you are able, consider employing one of the veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Chances are you will be pleased with their discipline and work ethic.