We hear daily of World War veterans, Korean veterans and most recently, Afghan veterans; but we hear nothing of veterans who silently go unnamed and forgotten. Are the sacrifices of the “Cold War vet,” the “Peacekeeping vet,” the “Gulf War vet,” the “Somalia vet,” the “Balkan vet” not also noteworthy, and should they not be treated equally?
We are all veterans and deserve to be treated as such. Sadly, some veterans are more equal than others; we have a class system of access to programs and services, which can no longer be tolerated.
To add insult to injury, more and more charities are being formed to help to look after these forgotten veterans.
The government continues its paralysis; absolutely no movement on veterans program reforms, no movement on the recommendations of the Standing Committee and no movement on amending the very outdated New Veterans Charter.
It is clear that the government has failed its veterans; imagine what it would be like had the veterans failed Canada.
Let us not wait 200 years to acknowledge their service.
Gord Jenkins, President NATO Veterans Organization of Canada, Ottawa
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