Memorial Day is the day we remember those men and women who have died while serving in our country’s armed forces. Nationwide, cemetery services and parades are being held. Evansville is no exception.
This morning I attended the Locust Hill Memorial Day service. County Commissioner Stephen Melcher gave a stirring, heartfelt speech. It was because of the men and women like Stephen who participated in the service and the veterans in the audience that I decided to write this note.
I saw an old friend who still suffers from the service he gave to our country. As he fights cancer and PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), the VA loses his paperwork over again and continues to fail to correctly minister to his physical problems. He is lucky to have such a loving wife by his side.
This reminded me of a call for help that I received just last week. A friend, a disabled veteran married four years ago, is still not able to get the VA to recognize his “new†marriage.
The State Legislature, of which I am a member, is committed to veterans affairs and improving conditions for returning veterans. Here are two examples.
We passed a bill this past legislature that requires the state department of health, in consultation with the Indiana department of veterans’ affairs and the division of mental health and addiction, to study and report findings and recommendations to the legislative council not later than September 1, 2014, concerning implementation of a program for the treatment of veterans who have traumatic brain injury or posttraumatic stress disorder.
We also passed a bill that provides that it is an unlawful employment practice (practice) for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by: (1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or (2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana national guard or member of a reserve component. The bill requires the Indiana civil rights commission to enforce alleged violations of the practice.
At the state level I believe we are working toward better service to veterans. I know we can do more. So, as we have remembered our veterans and servicemen and women on this important day, let us not forget to remember them every day.
