I am angry and getting more angry by the minute.  The source of my anger is the research I have been doing on veteran suicides.  I cannot find an end to the horror.  I am ashamed that I have only come recently to appreciate the scourge this epidemic is on the character of our country. 

I guess I should back-up…I should update those of you who have perhaps not been with me on The New Forty as my ire has become better informed.  I have always had a soft spot for veterans, but even more so since my son has become a disabled vet.  I have written about soldiers, the military and veterans on The New Forty many times.  In a May blog I asked my elected representatives to do something about the veteran suicide epidemic (see 18 a day…do the math ) and heard back from one of Congressman Berg’s DC-based aides (see Take note Congressman Berg).  My radio pal, Bruce Kelly, brought to Congressman Berg’s attention at my request the issue of veteran suicides when he was on Bruce’s show in late June.  Since then I have spoken with Congressman Berg and last week I met with a couple of members of his North Dakota staff on the topic (which for the record were a thousand times more pleasant than the DC staffer I interacted with).  I am grateful to be able to share what I have learned and hopeful that every piece of information shared regarding this horrible epidemic will help move us toward meaningful and enduring solutions. 

I say meaningful and enduring solutions because this topic – this discussion – this travesty – is not new news.  This suicide spike among veterans (as well as active military in the field or those  facing additional deployments) has been documented and talked about since 2004.  Congress collected data on it in late 2007.  Thousands of articles, blogs, reports, etc. have been written about it (for a small sampling see this page).  Tens of thousands of veterans and many thousands of active mlitary members have committed suicide.  Countless family members and friends have suffered the loss of loved ones.  

We haven’t done our job.  We should have provided the necessary services to prevent these suicides – we should have been paying more attention.  And yes, I say “our job” and “we” because we are the ones who put folks in legislative positions with our votes and we must be the ones who demand action.  We are the ones who must say unequivocally to our elected representatives – DO SOMETHING!

I have spent many hours now becoming better-versed in the volume of information on this issue – frankly it is too much.  It is too sad, seems too hopeless and the bureaucracy seems too great…I understand the despair and frustration those immersed in the issue feel – I understand why they are angry.  We all should be angry.  We all should look into the faces of the statistics (see some of them here on Facebook) and be mad as hell that this known epidemic has been allowed to continue.

I have ideas – ideas for solutions.  My ideas are a byproduct of the synthesis of many stories and many conversations.  I am going to put all those ideas into a position paper that I will post to both The New Forty and Veteran Suicides – America’s Shame in the hope that it will generate a very directed and serious dialogue for change.  While I doubt I have all of the answers (or even understand all the questions), I am not afraid to step up and say,  “Dammit, start crafting solutions!” 

I am part of the “we” that is responsible for addressing this epidemic.  I am a registered voter.  I am going to see to it that my vote creates a government that takes care of its military and veterans.  I am going to see to it that the most heartbreaking epidemic this country has ever experienced is addressed.  I beg you to join me in that responsibility.

Day seven hundred and thirty-five of the new forty – obla di obla da

Ms. C

This is a dual post between The New Forty and Veteran Suicides – America’s Shame.