Letters to the editor

Shabby treatment of veterans

Soldiers who were 17 at the end of World War II (1945) would now be 85, and would be the youngest veterans of that war.  Other survivors are now older, often sick, and with a short life expectancy. Veterans have been traveling to D.C. as part of Honor Flights, a program that enables WW2 veterans to have an expense-paid trip to the World War II memorial that they themselves made possible.  The memorial is outdoors and stunningly beautiful.

National parks were closed for the 10/1 shutdown.  The House Republicans, who are honoring campaign commitments to voters to delay and defund Obamacare, had passed a bill funding national parks, which the Senate refused.  Expecting Honor Flights from their districts, Congressman Palazzo and others requested repeatedly, including to the President, that the WW2 Memorial be made available,. Requests were refused, and the entrance blocked.

The House has passed over five bills to fund specific components of the government including NIH cancer programs for children.  The House has passed three bills fully to fund all aspects of the government with the exception of Obamacare, also all refused.  The Democrat Senate is preferring to inflict maximal pain on our citizens, including elderly veterans of the Greatest Generation, rather than allow the government to function.

The Senate is trying to protect an unpopular bill so dysfunctional that the sign-up site has been withdrawn.  It is using shabby treatment of veterans as a tool.  I urge readers to express support for our veterans despite Senate manipulations.

Laura Gutman

Durham