Do Something Nice for Yourself This Memorial Day

Memorial Day can be a difficult day for many veterans.  Some have lost a good friend, some are constantly reminded of something bad that has happened.  For me, I'm reminded of dreams that I was never able to fulfill.  Either way I will be proud to put on my uniform and march in my local Memorial Day parade, and I urge any veteran to do the same.  One thing that I have realized over the past five years is that people are thankful for your service and it will make you feel good to know that people care about what you have been through.

Update on Disability Ratings Taking Too Long

One of my first posts was about disability ratings taking too long, and it has been by far the most popular post I have written so far.  I have had a lot of people writing to me telling me of their stories of the VA delaying their cases and their disability ratings taking two years or more.  To me, the fact that people have to wait for any more than a few months disgusts me, and we need to do something to change the system.  If you are reading this, whether or not you have had to wait a long time for a disability rating, please take the time to write a letter to your congressman or senator asking them to be proactive to try to change the way disability ratings are going through the system.  This small action can go a long way toward helping those who put their lives on the line to protect you and your family.

My Thoughts on People from WWII and Today

I have been doing a lot of reading about World War II recently, and the citizens of that time really should be admired for the sacrifices they were willing to make.  People had limits on amounts of milk, gasoline, and other items we take for granted today in order to help with the war effort.  As I read in "Flags of Our Fathers", during a Northeastern Women's basketball game, they stopped the game so all of the players, referees, and fans could look for one lost bobby pin that could be used for scrap metal to help in the war effort.  People were lining up to sign up to serve to protect their country, and people that couldn't sign up were willing to work long days in factories to build essential equipment for the war.  The amount of effort the average citizen was willing to put in is something that everybody should respect, and should be something that we should strive for today.