This Veteran’s Life

Just wanted to point out a little fact that might have slipped by a lot of people watching the debates last night. Towards the end of the Democrats’ debate John Edwards reminded Americans that almost 200,000 Veterans will be sleeping on the streets tonight. Yes - TONIGHT, this is not the total number that ever once were homeless - Two hundred thousand men and women that have served our country are not climbing into a bed they call their own tonight. They’re sleeping on the street, in their cars, or if they’re lucky maybe a shelter.

It is true that Veterans make up a disproportionate share of homeless people. They represent roughly 26 percent of homeless people, but only 11 percent of the civilian population 18 years and older. According to a story that appeared in the New York Times back in November, 400 Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have turned up homeless. Many experts expect this number to increase dramatically over the next few months and years.

I’m not saying I agree with anything else he said tonight or what any of them said for that matter, I just appreciate his attempt at reminding people that this is a fact and well it just ain’t right.

To find out more check out these sites:
National Alliance to End Homelessness
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

I received an email from one of @WR’s friends the other day regarding a film documentary he’s working on called Veterans’ Affairs.  He’s started a website for the project and you can access it here.  I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to check it out.  @WR and I share Matt’s concern for the treatment and welfare of Veterans, especially the homeless, as those of you have been reading @WR for a while know from his blog entries.

Matt is a Veteran of the Iraq War and a recipient of two Purple Hearts.  This guy knows his stuff and is committed to paying it forward to other Veterans.  Check out these other two stories about Matt and another of his projects.

Good luck Matt!  Lots of encouragement and support from both of us.

I was thinking about Christmas traditions the other night. The house I grew up in always had several candles in the window at Christmas time - electric ones with bright orange bulbs. Last December I explained to @WR that the tradition of placing a Candle in the Window symbolizes the warmth and security of the family hearth and signals loyalty to family members and loved ones who are not present in the home. While doing some research for this post today I found this poem by Chaplain Larry Connelly on this website.

A Candle in the Window

There’s a candle in the window
For our soldier off at war,
Standing constant vigil ’til
His foreign tour is o’er.

The sentinel stands faithfully
Through day and dark of night,
Reminding all who look its way,
To pray for Freedom’s fight.

For safety and for courage,
And for wisdom do we pray;
That God may grant him all these things
As his Comrade day by day.

Now stand, O Candle, bright and tall,
Alert us all, each one,
That the price of freedom is not cheap,
And its battle not yet done.

So light his way and burn for him,
And for his safe returning;
Our love will be the fuel that keeps
Our soldier’s candle burning.

So this holiday I ask you to consider placing a candle in your window for all our soldiers that are away from home this holiday season. While he’s not at war this year he’s still away from home and fighting to get back soon, so the candle at my home will still be for @WR.

Happy Holidays Everyone!