Governor Chafee, Haven't Our Veterans Given Enough?

Governor Chafee, Haven't Our Veterans Given Enough?

 

I am generally not “a line in the sand” type of person, especially given the current fiscal challenges faced by our nation, states and municipalities. I fully recognize and appreciate the push and pull of politics, government and compromise, in which I eagerly participate as a partisan. But, I don’t pen this as a partisan. I pen this as an American. We can all agree there are troubled waters ahead in our financial future, and how they are tackled will bring many an opinion to the forefront. The reality is that in order to right our ship, it will take shared sacrifice, a bit of pain and perhaps a collective realization of humbling truths. However, from the perspective of this middle aged daughter, granddaughter, niece of some of the most amazing men who took up arms and stood a post to protect the values of this country, that line in the sand has been drawn. The mere thought of Rhode Island’s Governor even considering cuts to veterans benefits is a shock to the conscience, patently offensive and must be wholeheartedly and vigorously rejected.

A Time of Reflection 

A time of reflection and reexamination of priorities is at hand, particularly in the wake of the death of WWI ‘s last veteran, Frank Buckles. It behooves us now to turn reflection and contemplation inward, listen to our better angels, as well as remember each of the veterans past, present and future in our lives. War, combat and conflict are ugly, tragic and have the capacity to break people physically and mentally. The impact of war tears open the hearts of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, classmates and friends. The sacrifices of military service must never ever be reflected in a budget line item. To consider the budgetary costs of our veterans prohibitive, is wrong and immoral. As the state seeks to address our fiscal problems, veterans must remain off limits. They kept a promise. Now it is incumbent upon us to care for them properly at no additional cost to them. Veterans have paid with their, blood, lives, limbs and peace of mind for the greater good of this world. Their sacrifice has been deposited; they not need to make any further payments.

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Don't Balance the Budget on Their Service

As our nation’s military is stretched around the globe, providing safety, security, humanitarian defense and aide, as well as strengthening burgeoning democracies, the time is now to reflect and honor their service by keeping our promise to them. We must reject the prospect of balancing a budget at the expense of the most honorable, brave and courageous men and women of our country. According the Census there are 23.5 million veterans still alive. We are losing WWII veterans at a rate of approximately 1000 per day. Make no mistake, my plea is not about numbers or balance sheets or dollars and cents. My call is to every American who inhales the fresh air of liberty and never had to pick up a gun or stand a post to keep that air fresh and free. Governor Chafee, I implore you to find another way. Governor please ask each of us who have never seen the horrors of war or the grit of service to pony up; for our veterans, I will be the first in line!

For My Father

I write this for my father who lied about his age and entered the Navy 2 weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, for my uncle who fought the fierce “Battle of the Bulge”, for my Godfather who was shot down over Germany and was held a POW for nearly a year, for my Portuguese immigrant Grandfather who served honorably in the U.S . Calvary and for every man or woman who remains a sentinel of our freedom. Thank you to all our veterans. I hope if one issue moves people to action – it is this one!

Carol Anne Costa is the Chairwoman of the Scituate Democratic Town Committee and Secretary of the RI Association of Democratic City and Town Chairs