Because today is Veterans Day there are going to be lots of posts, tweets, and filtered photos about our nation’s heroes. While all of that is sweet and dandy, there is more that you can do to actually support our veterans and their families. It’s time that we put our differences aside and give back to those who have given it all so selflessly to this country:
1) Spend your money at companies that have active programs to hire veterans. Many of our soldiers return from combat without a job. According to the United States Department of Labor website, in 2012 6.9 percent of male veterans were unemployed and 8.3 percent of female veterans were unemployed. Companies such as Starbucks, United Airlines and 24 Hour Fitness are veteran friendly and seek out veterans to hire. For more companies check out this list.
2) If you work for a company, store or restaurant, suggest to your employer to offer military discounts. Here’s the catch, several companies offer this but they have strings attached. For one, some companies, mostly airlines, only allow you to use military discounts when your service member is on active duty, meaning they are most likely not in the country to use the discount. Active duty usually refers to soldiers serving in combat zones. This in particular annoys me because companies will advertise how much they help veterans and their families but then have very strict rules to use the discount. Other companies will only let use the discount on particular dates throughout the year. I’m sorry, but do soldiers get the chance to choose the days they will risk their lives for your freedom? No, not really because they serve every day. How would you like to only have freedom on specific dates?
3) Vote, vote, vote for representatives that don’t want to cut veteran benefits. I’m not telling you to vote for a specific party, I’m telling you to pay attention to what bills your representatives have co-signed. Our country’s soldiers have quite literally given up their lives for this country, the least we can do as a nation is to provide them and their families with the necessary resources to continue after combat. Programs to address Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and appropriately funded general health centers are arguably the most important health benefits our returning soldiers need.
This Veteran’s Day do more than just write a post on your Facebook page — write a post on your representative’s page asking what he/she has done for our soldiers.
(Disclaimer: I am the daughter of a lieutenant colonel and younger sister of a major in the Army, or as I like to say, I’m an Army Brat.)
About Claudia Tristán
