12 hours Ago By Jenn Johnson, Detroit Lakes
DETROIT LAKES — I wanted to thank veterans in this letter because I am the product of a military household. Army Brat is a title I wear proudly, as my father and step-dad both served in the U.S.
Army and are Vietnam War veterans.Both of my grandfathers served during World War II, and one of my uncles served in the Navy. I grew up watching service men and women proudly upholding their oath to the United States Constitution, “to support and defend it against all enemies foreign and domestic.
”I had the privilege of working alongside members of the military working with military dependents in Panama and Germany, and witnessed the dedication and resilience of these men and women and their families first-hand through the hardships of being away from friends and family, and the emotional and physical toll on them from the deployments of their military family members.Cutting their VA benefits, especially when there was already a shortage of staff, is a slap in the face so egregious I can hardly find the appropriate words to express my sadness and frustration.As a taxpayer and citizen who enjoys the freedoms these veterans fought for all of us to enjoy (even when they may or may not personally agree with how American citizens use those freedoms, like freedom of speech and freedom to peacefully protest), I do not see the VA and the good work it does for our veterans as something that needs to be cut back.
I want my taxpayer dollars to go to necessary services, like the VA, to give back to those who have given so much to me and to all of us.That's why I say thank you to our veterans and the Veterans Administration: Thank you to our veterans for their courageous sacrifices and service to our country and to the people of the world, as our defense force personnel have upheld their oath to the Constitution of the United States. We appreciate you.
Thank you to our veterans who, upon leaving the military, chose to serve their country in the federal workforce where veterans make up 30% of federal workers, half of whom are disabled. A special thank you to the Veterans Administration for the critical support and care you provide to those who have served. Your commitment to their health and well-being is invaluable.
Some 90% of the VA employees work for the Veterans Health Administration, which saw a 30% increase in the veterans it cares for from March 2023 to March 2024. Last year, the VA announced it was looking to fill 66,000 vacancies to help provide for the 9 million-plus veterans it serves. Now they are looking at 83,000 additional staff losing their jobs by August, according to the American Legion.
Thank you to veterans who contribute not only to the safety of our country but also to the strength of our communities. Your service inspires us all to give back and to live with purpose. Thank you to the VA staff who have helped veterans deal with the mental toll serving has taken on them.
The staff cuts will affect 800-900 of the 1,130 VA staff, who are often veterans themselves, who work on the Veterans Crisis Line. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among veterans under 45 years old and claims the lives of 17.6 veterans a day, according to PBS News.
Veterans and the VA staff who serve them deserve better. Thank you to the veterans and the VA staff for your resilience and strength during your time in service and now. You are inspirational.
Thank you for your unwavering determination and for leading by example. The cuts to the VA will affect the critical research the VA conducts in the medical and social sciences, with 350 VA researchers will likely lose their jobs with these cuts. The current administration has directed research to stop on how poverty and race impact veteran’s health.
Many who have served in the military enlisted to serve their country and to help support their families and lift them out of poverty. Additionally, about 10% of veterans do not have access to VA benefits. These veterans rely on Medicaid for some or all of their healthcare.
Suggested Medicaid cuts would also adversely affect our veterans.]]>.
