Vet funding cuts a national disgrace

Memorial Day, of course, is a time when we honor those in the military who have fought and died for our country. We've all heard, I'm sure, that we should Thank a Vet. Well, I'm here to say that we need to do far more than simply thank those who have stepped up to serve our country by putting their lives on the line.

As Congress continues to cut funding for our vets, it's time for the American people to stand up and protest these actions by Congress. These men and women who have worn our country's uniform deserve our full support. It's a disgrace that any veteran should be allowed to live on the street, or come home without adequate medical support, or come home and not be provided a job.

There is a real cost to maintaining a standing military. Part of that cost is providing them with what they need on the battlefield and also providing them what they need when they return home. This should not be a partisan issue. Democrats and Republicans should agree on this. To watch Congress continue to cut these brave men and women's benefits should be an outrage to all of us. I, for one, am tired of hearing the empty rhetoric coming from Congress of how they support our troops. Their actions speak much louder than their empty words and stingy cuts to programs that the veterans have earned and deserve.

It's time to end this national disgrace of having our vets come home to no job, no housing, no medical care and no support from the American people. Playing cop to the world costs money and we'd better be willing to spend it.

Bill Sarto

Carpentersville