Editorial: Veterans deserve lifelong support for their life of service

A veteran is usually identified as a person who served in the military. It also can mean a person of great experience.

There is a reason for the overlap. U.S. military veterans seem to have experience in so many fields.

Of 45 presidents sworn into office, 26 served in uniform — from privates such as Pennsylvania’s James Buchanan to the highest ranking generals such as George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower.

The percentage is a bit lower for Congress. About a sixth of the House of Representatives — including both Reps. Conor Lamb and Guy Reschenthaler — are veterans, and 19 of 100 senators.

The service doesn’t stop there. According to nonprofit journalism organization The Marshall Project, about one in five police officers are veterans. Politico points to 110,000 teachers making the jump from war zones to school zones. Almost 14,000 Pennsylvania state employees were in the military.

That is a lot experience in giving to communities.

Unfortunately, people need to practice more giving back.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports there are about 18.8 million veterans. Of those, about 4.7 million are disabled because of their service.

They deal with profound medical problems, often for decades after discharge. There are mental health issues connected to service, not the least of which is post-traumatic stress disorder. Different reports put veteran suicide as high as 15 to 20 deaths per day — 50% more than the nonveteran population.

More than 37,000 veterans deal with homelessness, a number that has risen 2.1% since 2018.

It raises a simple question. Why?

Veterans — men and women, some too young to buy a beer and some celebrating three-digit birthdays — did their job. They stood up when called or stepped forward to volunteer. Today, with the draft long gone, people join the military for varied reasons: a patriotic duty to service, the desire to be challenged, and the life benefits of learning discipline, teamwork and technical skills.

In the process, they have saved lives, defended borders, advanced a mission and represented America at home or overseas. Whether Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard, they gave of themselves in effort or blood or both.

No veteran should ever be homeless or hungry. They should not just receive the health care they were promised — it should be provided quickly, efficiently and proactively.

As a nation, we owe them gratitude, naturally, and respect, definitely. But more than that, they are owed respite.