During the dinner, one of the veterans looked up from his dinner and said, "This is the first time I have ever been invited to some one's house for the holidays".
Another of the veterans, suffering from PTSD and brain trauma, with a subsequent addiction to alcohol, felt the need to get an anti-anxiety pill before joining us at our table.
A third veterans had served her country for thirteen years. This time included a year in Afghanistan, during which time she had been shot at, blown up and had shot over 60 of the enemy. After the service she could not find work and after struggles dealing with homelessness, she arrived at our Hot Springs facility to get care for her PTSD, and work toward getting a job that would solve her homelessness issue.
To my dismay, I discovered that this soldier, homeless and without work at this time, had managed to save money from the below-minimum wage received in the Domiciliary, to purchase a punch card to our local recreation facility with natural warm mineral waters.
"But their is no charge for veterans in treatment to use our Evans Plunge!" I said, stunned by her words.
It was then that I learned of yet another cut by our federal government in Washington. They usually paid a minimal amount to cover the veterans use of the swimming pool, hot tubs, sauna, steam room and exercise room, all helpful ways to speed their recovery.
The next day I learned that our Plunge is working on this issue, but, in the meantime, I felt another pang of anger and resentment toward the VA administration that once again has told our veterans that their years of service did not earn them another aid in their healing in order to be able to work through emotional or chemical issues and once again, re-join society and their families.
Our town is the Veteans Town, and we will find a way to welcome the veterans from the Dom to our local health club, no matter what cuts they make from on high. The veterans served us, and when they return, we will find a way to thank them.
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