“Support the troops” is the right, patriotic, humane thing to do.

But if you really want to support the troops, a bumper sticker or mailing them cookies or pictures of their children they may never see in person is not support! The problem with “support the troops” is that once fighting stops (if it ever does), most people, especially Congress, forget about the troops.

Oh, sure, we have the VA. And some few ex-troops have benefited by it. But for people of my generation (Korea and Vietnam) there are still thousands of claims that have been denied or “under consideration” for decades. I sometimes think the VA’s philosophy is to stall until the veteran dies, then they can forget it.

Unfortunately, I speak from experience.

If you really want to support the troops, ensure they have medical help when they return and that rehabilitation is on the government’s list of priorities. Be sure they have jobs and help in adjusting to civilian life again. Be sure the VA is revamped into a helping organization. Make sure the tens of thousands of pending claims get the attention they deserve. Most of all, welcome them back as people that have been through and seen things that, I hope, the rest of us never have the bad luck to experience. Want to help? Give them peace and a return to sanity.

Yes, support the troops … with real, honest-to-God, continuing support.

Dick Rosenberg, Lewiston