Honor veterans by sparing their lives

Your homeless veterans editorial exposes the crying shame which most cozy civilians are not aware of. That problem increases daily because of political neglect and public indifference.

We all are too eager to wave the American flag when Johnny comes marching home to band music.

But the forgotten thousands of Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan veterans who have been unlucky enough to come home with post-traumatic stress or chronic substance abuse don't get to hear the band play.

If our federal legislators allocated about 5 percent of the war expenditures to take care of these unsung heroes, we would all sleep easier. More VA hospitals and local care centers would shelter and rehabilitate these helpless war casualties.

Concerned civilians such as local church and veterans posts, plus the American Legion, VFW and other national organizations, are influential enough to solve this widespread challenge.

The best way to honor the surviving veterans as the cold weather approaches is to spare their lives.

Ed Michals

Glen Ellyn