Letter from a marine Afghanistan vet who is a volunteer for Democracy for America

Dear DFA Member,

Veterans Day is an important day to reflect on our veterans, and their sacrifices. I've done some reflecting myself.

My name is Elliot Anderson, I'm a marine Afghanistan vet and I first started volunteering with Democracy for America when I attended the Nevada training in February of this year.

I think it's high time we stop making combat veterans and disabled veterans unnecessarily. In Iraq, it's high time to let the civil war we are mediating run its course, and get our troops out of the crossfire. Here at home it's high time to stop the drum beat of war with Iran. It isn't helping veterans to send them overseas into un-just wars.

Most importantly on Veterans Day we must reflect and realize that we are not taking care of the people who we sent to war to the extent they need. Recent reports have shown damning evidence on the results of years of neglect of the Veterans Administration. It has been estimated that over 25% of the homeless are veterans.

Why is that?

Just because you are suffering doesn't mean it is your own fault. For a lot of our homeless veterans they have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and are unemployable. In the meantime because of the neglect of the veterans administration there is a backlog for claims which can take up to 6 months to fix. So what is an unemployable veteran supposed to do for 6 months? The answer, of course, is end up on the streets.

Let's resolve this Veterans Day to remember our veterans 365 days a year and unlike the right wing, continue to put our money where our mouth is. Everyday you can make a difference in a veteran's life. May I suggest a fantastic organization which gets vets off the streets and rehabilitates them?

You can help today at: http://www.usvetsinc.org

Do what you can to help veterans 365 days a year. If not at the link above, find out where you can make a difference for veterans in your neighborhood and take action. When helping out, let it be known what you think. Tell everyone you meet, "Though I oppose un-just wars, I fully support our veterans." There won't be any doubt who puts their money where their mouth is.

Semper Fi to our veterans and those who tangibly support them,

-Elliot

Elliot Anderson
Afghanistan Veteran
Nevada DFA Member