In 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the Great War, later known as World War I, officially came to an end. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as “Armistice Day,” which is now what we call Veterans Day.
Today, we honor the men and women who’ve served, fought, and sacrificed to defend the freedoms and liberties we cherish every single day. We should also take a moment to thank the families and loved ones of our veterans for their sacrifice as they provided support and care to those who answered the call to serve.
As the U.S. Representative for Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District, it is one of my greatest privileges to meet regularly with veterans from our area and those who live across the country. After every meeting, without fail, I’m left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and admiration.
Just last week, I flew with the Flag City Honor Flight from Toledo, Ohio to Washington, D.C., made up of 87 Vietnam veterans. During the Honor Flight, I served as a Veteran Guardian for Ed Bidlack, a Vietnam veteran from Continental, Ohio. Like each veteran on the Honor Flight, Ed had his own unique story to tell.
Ed made the pilgrimage to D.C. to honor his brother-in-arms, David J. Givens, who lost his life in August 1969. While Ed was on guard duty, he switched positions with his friend, David, due to being short-handed on men. Shortly after the switch, David’s bunker was attacked by enemy fire. Tragically, David’s life was cut short that day.
After all these years, Ed was able to find closure by honoring David’s memory. Along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, underneath the engraving of David’s name, Ed left a letter and a statue of a bird, hand painted by Ed’s granddaughter, with a note that read, “David, I’ve never forgotten you.”
Just as Ed has never forgotten David’s sacrifice, we must pledge to do the same for millions of veterans who’ve served our country. In Congress, I am able to craft and advance legislative solutions to ensure our veterans are receiving the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
As our servicemembers return to civilian life, we must do everything we can to help with the transition. Oftentimes, veterans return from their service and face obstacles finding job opportunities that allow them to use the skills and training they developed while on duty.
That’s why I worked on a bill, which was signed into law last year, called the Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act.
In November 2019, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General shared that staff shortages are a root cause of many of the problems in veterans’ care. The Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act is bipartisan legislation that will make it easier for veterans to use the skills they learned and utilized while enlisted to join federal health care departments. This is a win-win. Veterans are able to help fellow veterans, and the VA will benefit from employing qualified and hardworking professionals who have already proven their love and dedication to this nation.
It is also important to ensure veterans are receiving a fair shake and clear lines of communication from federal agencies, like the VA.
Oftentimes, veterans are unable to appeal a disability claim decision because they never received it from the VA. That is unacceptable, and it’s why I introduced legislation last year, called the Veterans Right to Expediency Act, to guarantee our veterans receive prompt notice of the result of their disability claims. This will enable them to appeal the decision in a timely manner if they so choose.
While I’ll continue working on legislative solutions like these to prioritize veteran care, my team and I also stand ready to help our veterans navigate the federal bureaucracy.
Whether it’s ensuring a veteran is receiving a response from the VA to see a doctor, or if they haven’t received their service records or ID cards – my team and I stand ready to assist. If you’re a veteran or you know of a veteran who needs assistance with the VA, please contact my office. This is an important and integral part of my job, and I’m here to be a personal advocate to promote the interests and well-being of our brave veterans.
Ultimately, we will never be able to fully repay the men and women who served for donning the uniform and answering the call of duty. However, we can express our undying gratitude for their efforts to defend our country.
Thank you to the family members of our veterans for supporting your loved one’s call to serve. Thank you to the men and women who’ve fought to defend our freedoms and uphold our values. And thank you for being willing to lay down your life for your nation and fellow countrymen – we are forever in your debt.
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, Ohio-5
