America can do better by its veterans

Frank Perna, Las Vegas

Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 | 2:02 a.m.

The Las Vegas Sun’s Nov. 15 editorial, “Assisting wounded vets,” identified another void in services to our Iraqi–Afghanistan veterans, who are returning sicker physically and mentally than in previous wars.

Again, legislation will be required to give compensation to families who care for disabled veterans and give up their salaries and benefits. It will be far less expensive to provide care and compensation now instead of ignoring the problem. Three thousand disabled veterans requiring full-time care is a national emergency. And that doesn’t include the thousands of others who are unable to navigate the bureaucratic maze.

But legislation is not the only action needed. We must also have more advocates outside of our veterans’ national organizations because this is a local problem. All states and regions have different problems and the Las Vegas Valley has problems related to services and overpopulation. We are unique in the country.

Advocates cannot be ignored when they approach the Veterans Administration and Department of Defense to offer help or suggestions. The improvements, when problems are identified, will not come from Washington but will when advocacy identifies them on a local level.

I am a volunteer veterans’ representative in a nonprofit 501 organization, Southern Nevada Advocates for Homeless People, and am speaking from experience. We all must unite to better serve our veterans.