Wounded Warrior

Do you want to see my husbands head explode? OK, be in the room when a commercial comes on the air for Wounded Warriors. Especially the ones that seem to indicate that disabled veterans are completely abandoned by the government and have absolutely zero benefits.  Then add a distraught spouse who indicates that they “never would have made it” without Wounded Warriors. Then if you want to see him have a seizure, show a news story about some famous person going on a fishing trip or sports event with these same desolate soldiers.

Now look, I am sure that this program does indeed help disabled veterans with everything from emotional outreach programs to prosthetics. BUT… trust me when I tell you that they are not abandoned.  My husband (also a veteran, although not combat) spends well over 50 hours a week in a facility dedicated to help.  A facility that spends millions of dollars to provide every type of service from dental to psychiatric to job placement and more.  Nope they don’t have cool commercials, they don’t have celebrity spokespeople, and they won’t mail you a special edition coffee mug if you give $25. They just give quality care to the best of their ability. 

Most of the people that work at the VA are veterans themselves.  One of the problems that plague the VA is the same problem the plagues the rest of the government – bureaucracy! Plain and simple.  So while it may make you feel better to send them a check, remember to put a little common sense into the whole idea that these soldiers were dropped off and no one ever cared again.