President’s Message

As I do rounds at the different hospitals, I am disturbed to see that our newly injured patients don’t have the benefit of talking with older members. These talks in the old days were an education that you could not get any place else. They were instrumental in getting you through rehabilitation. Some of the things I learned back then still serve me today.

There was a time when the wards were full of newly injured patients, particularly during the Vietnam War. We hope not to see a repeat of that, but there will be plenty of veterans coming into the VA for post-traumatic stress disorder, now that, thankfully, this is a diagnosed condition. Unfortunately, the number of injured servicemen and servicewomen also continues to grow, and there seems to be no end in sight.

One thing I am grateful for is that we have learned some of the lessons from past wars and now treat our wounded with dignity. This was not the case during the Vietnam War, when being a veteran was not something anyone was proud of. Unfortunately, many of these veterans had serious problems and it took the VA a long time to start dealing with them. In the meantime, many lives were adversely affected, to put it mildly. I was actually told during one of my visits to Walter Reed and Bethesda Military hospitals, by the commanding officer and some of the wounded men and women: “We are treated so well because you Vietnam veterans were treated so lousy.”

Experiencing the horrors of war at a young age certainly leaves one speechless and incapable of verbalizing one’s experiences to another person. The reserve and impediments, however, melt away when you meet someone who has gone through similar experiences. I’m hopeful that this new generation of young veterans will have the benefit of the right kind of treatment and support that will allow them to go on to have fulfilling and successful lives, as well as to be proud of their service to their country.

I encourage our older members to visit some of the newly injured at the VA hospitals. Stop by and say hello to a real patriot. You will feel so good about it and will be enriched by the experience. Needless to say, we need to hold near and dear all the servicemen and servicewomen who have fought for this great country of ours. They were all just kids when they enlisted and were rushed into maturity well before their time by their combat experience.

Regrettably, there’s only one day a year set aside to honor veterans. But we can use every opportunity we get throughout the year to thank our veterans for the freedoms which we often take for granted, and for our great heritage as a nation. I urge you to thank a veteran, whether young or old. They have protected us and continue to protect us, and we need to honor them and make them feel appreciated.

Until next month keep your annual appointments and Semper Fi!

Peter F. Addesso
President