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“TO CARE FOR HIM WHO SHALL HAVE BORNE THE BATTLE AND FOR HIS WIDOW, AND HIS ORPHAN”

Abraham Lincoln

This Memorial Day, we will again honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, citing especially the casualties suffered during the recent conflicts.  Yet, let us not forget there are many surviving veterans and their family members who currently face some tough obstacles with deployment and reintegration.

Today, the National Guard and Reserves are used more than any other time in recent history to fight our conflicts.  Approximately 40% of Iraq and Afghanistan troops and veterans are National Guard and Reserve members[1].   In particular, Pennsylvania has borne a disproportionate share of the burden and is deploying its largest contingent since the Korean War, with more than 5,000 PA National Guard members deploying in 2009 and 2010.[2] Furthermore, unlike in the past, many citizen soldiers are older, married and have children.  All of these factors, combined with the lack of a support network and facilities provided to an active duty counterpart, have a negative impact on our local citizen soldiers and their families.

Unfortunately, once a veteran makes it through the strain of a deployment and returns home it doesn’t necessarily get any easier. Battling misplaced, broad-brush stereotypes[3], returning veterans tend to have a difficult time finding employment.  Younger veterans are twice as likely to be unemployed as their non-veteran counterparts[4]; and, nearly one in five veterans returning to civilian life from a recent combat tour is unemployed[5].

Veterans also have a challenging time with housing; while veterans are approximately nine percent of the population, they account for 26% of the homeless. Women veterans are 2 to 4 times more likely to be homeless than non-veteran women.[6] The Department of Veterans Affairs estimated that nearly 154,000 veterans are homeless on any given night and that nearly half a million veterans will experience homelessness over the course of a year.[7] In fact, by one count, there are currently over 5,000 homeless veterans here in Pennsylvania alone.[8]

Besides housing and employment, there are other struggles for veterans when they return.  Some studies determined that approximately one third of all veterans returning from a recent combat tour will have some mental health issues.[9] In fact, the Department of Defense reported that almost half of all National Guard and Reserves who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer psychological problems.[10]

Unfortunately, today, there is a lack of personal connection between busy citizens and those whose sacrifices have allowed them to prosper.  Many of these obstacles are unfamiliar to the average citizen, and because of our disconnection, our defenders remain in the shadows of our busy lives, as they deploy and transition back to civilian life.  Accompanying the Memorial Day testimonials, expressions of appreciation, and honors imparted, we should all ask, “Have I done my duty?”  Regardless of one’s past service, age, or political opinion, today we all have an opportunity to answer that question - Yes!

One way you can fulfill your duty is by supporting an organization with a mission to help veterans.  There are many great national organizations, but here in Southwestern Pennsylvania we are lucky to have one which has been answering Lincoln’s call for over 25 years.  Veterans Leadership Program of Western PA (VLP) provides essential housing, employment, and other vital supportive services to eligible veterans, service members, and their families to improve their self-sufficiency, sustainability, and quality of life.  VLP is the largest provider of transitional housing to veterans in western Pennsylvania.  There has been a drastic increase in demand for such services.  One indication is that VLP performed over 4,800 incidences of service to its clients in 2008, an increase of nearly 220% from 2007.  Unlike some national organizations VLP serves our community.  One example is VLP’s involvement in the recent establishment of Veterans Court, a local court giving veterans a second chance. When looking for an organization to support, VLP is a strong local option.

Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom were fought by one in 1,000 Americans.  The fact that ever fewer Americans per capita are called to military service is good, a sign of successful policies pursued by a peace-loving country.  It does not follow, however, that Americans should remain unmindful to sacrifices made on their behalf.  Contrary to popular opinion, the government is not handling all of the issues veterans face.  As Lincoln so succinctly articulated, it is our duty as Americans to care for those who have borne the battle.  With over 300,000 veterans in Southwestern Pennsylvania we have one of the highest per capita concentrations of veterans in the United States[11] and we have a great opportunity to serve those in need.

Please help serve those who have selflessly served all of us -Duty Calls!

Frank J. DeCarlo is Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania.  He is also an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran and a Graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY.

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[1] Iraq Veteran Project Report “Risk and Protective Factors for Homelessness among OIF/OEF Veterans” Dec 7, 2006.

[2] Veterans for America Report, “Pennsylvania’s National Guard: Tremendous Sacrifice” Oct 27, 2008.  (http://www.veteransforamerica.org/reports/).

[3] Hope Yen, “Study: Job market hard on recently discharged” Army Times, Feb 8, 2008, (http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_veteransjobs_080207/)

[4] Young Veterans Join Unemployment Line (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-07-14-veterans-jobs_x.htm)

[5] Washington Post, “Veterans Return to Bleak Job Market” (www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/31/AR2008033102586.html)

[6] Overrepresentation of Women Veterans among Homeless Women, G. Gamache, R. Rosenheck, R. Tessler. J. Amer. Public Health, July 2003, Vol. 93, No. 7.

[7] Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Group (CHALENG) for Veterans, 14th Annual Progress Report on PUBLIC LAW 105-114, Services for Homeless Veterans Assessment and Coordination, February 28, 2008.  (http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=17).

[8] Brian Hampton, “Too Many Veterans are Living on the Street” (www.post-gazette.com/pg/08120/877588-109.stm)

[9] According to studies by COL Charles H. Hoge, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association

[10] Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health, “An a Achievable Vision: Report of the Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health”  June 2007, p. ES-2

[11] Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Data and Information (www1.va.gov/vetdata/) Census 2000