I am a Vietnam veteran, one of thousands of servicemen and women who were met with hostility upon returning home after answering our country’s call.
Today is Veteran’s Day, and I find myself reflecting on the overwhelming 3-to-1 “NO” vote that recently defeated critical funding for local veterans’ services. Why would voters turn this down? For some, it’s surely due to financial strain—16% of Josephine County residents live at or below the poverty line. But what about the remaining 84%? Out of 71,224 registered voters, only 48,867 cast a ballot. Over 22,000 people didn’t vote, despite how easy Oregon makes it to participate.
Did you choose not to vote? Was it apathy? Anger? Ignorance? Selfishness? Did you know that not voting effectively counts as a “NO” vote? Are you one who automatically votes “NO” on funding requests, regardless of the impact? Have you, as a “NO” voter, ever considered the veterans who fought for your freedom and now desperately need your help?
Many veterans returned home in flag-draped coffins, having given everything for freedom. Just look at the number of veterans who are homeless, jobless, sick, or mentally anguished. Many struggle with addiction. They come back with unshakeable trauma, illness, injuries, financial ruin, and sometimes broken families. Our local VA Services office is a vital lifeline for veterans in need. If you’ve never dealt with the complex, confusing maze of Veterans Affairs, you may not realize how difficult it is to get help. Our local Veterans’ Services office steps in to navigate this process, preventing veterans from slipping through the cracks. Don’t these forgotten warriors deserve your support? Not voting is a disservice to them. They need the assistance provided by Veterans’ Services!
This year, the county Budget Committee and the Board of County Commissioners drastically cut the Veterans’ Services office’s funding. Though there’s a sign along I-5 reading “Josephine County Honors Veterans,” these cuts send a different message. Josephine County has dishonored its veterans, especially those who are disabled. This decision—and the actions of those who chose not to vote—suggests that needy veterans are unworthy of our community’s support.
Thanks to this attitude, our veterans once again feel the same palpable disdain that many of us encountered upon returning from Vietnam. Still, I will always say, “God Bless America, land that I love!”
Sincerely,
Virgil Witcher
Vietnam Veteran, Hugo
