Dave Skocik is the president of the Delaware Veterans Coalition. Paul Davis is the president of the Delaware council of Vietnam Veterans of America.
Three significant anniversaries are upon us. They celebrate the basis of our transition from a colony of England to the proud nation we have become and the rights we enjoy today.
The Army and Navy are celebrating 250 years of service this month, with the Marines’ 250th birthday coming in November. They have fought our wars, maintained our freedom and understand its cost. They were joined in 1947 by the Air Force and, later, by the Space Force.
They’ve fought in every battle of every war from Lexington, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Appomattox and San Juan Hill to the trenches of France, the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy to Guam, Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East and a score of other places long forgotten by all but those of every color, ethnicity and creed who were there.
While fewer than 1% of our population swears an oath of service and bears the sacrifices of deployment, family separation and risk of injury and death, nearly 90% of Americans claim someone in their family who defended the rest of us. Military service runs in families who expect their children to be treated fairly.
Those who returned covered by the flag or are buried in foreign soil in 25 American military cemeteries across the globe will always be honored for trading their tomorrows for our today.
But the patriots who return physically or psychologically injured need and deserve the respect they’ve earned. We have a wonderful opportunity in the coming days for the Delaware Senate to join the House of Representatives, which, on May 20, unanimously passed House Bill 1 to add a secretary of veterans affairs to the governor's cabinet. Gov. Matt Meyer has pledged to sign this legislation into law if it passes.
This legacy legislation will allow the appointment of a seasoned veteran, with the experience, vision and commitment to highlight the service of his or her fellow veterans with the respect and voice they merit in the First State.
The new position will also facilitate outreach to the federal government to ensure that the men and women who serve receive the federal benefits they’ve earned. Those benefits, including retraining, disability compensation, GI Bill funding and treatment at civilian medical clinics, benefit Delaware’s budget.
The secretary will also have the ability to work with the state’s Economic Development Authority to promote the high-tech specialties, leadership, discipline and initiative new businesses require to relocate here, while encouraging veterans to remain in Delaware to fill these positions, rather than be recruited to other states.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
