Dear Beccy:
We who are life long peace activists, in the case of we Quakres, back to the 1620s or so, we have always warmly welcomed back the troups, when the government forgets them. Every day I stop and talk to Bobby, a silver star winner from the Viet Nam war, who is homeless and lives on my doorstep, as he knows most in the neighborhood call the cops to move him on. In every war, we are blamed for the treatment of the vets, while those who send them are the ones who deny them treatment, jobs and housig.
I salute your concern. Where and when you will be needed the most is when large numbers of vets join Bobby on the street. Every war since Viet Nam, presidents have promiced to take care of the vets, and say that unlike the Viet Nam vets, these vets wont be spit upon, then that same government spits them out onto our streets. Mr. Bush's father's war saw homeless vets on the streets of New York within six months. So, out there in the north west of our state, keep in touch. Every Christmas we Quakers pass thermal underwear out to folks living on the street, most of them are vets. So, keep in touch and lets work for the vets when they need it the most, when they return sad, lonely, and forgoten by the government that sent them.
I don't see why this war will be different that any other.
One more thought. Go and spend time visiting local pennitenturies, we do. Most of the inmates you will meet there are forgoten vets.
Your fellow citizen
Larry