Our Veterans Memorial is a Fitting Tribute

Over the past month, I had the honor and privilege of recognizing more than 1,200 Montanans who served in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War at special pinning ceremonies. (Date and location for Glasgow/Fort Peck area coming soon) Many of these events we chose to host at the veterans memorials because we wanted to share the moment with those we have lost. These memorials are places to remember our brothers and sisters who have fallen in defense of our nation, to celebrate the lives of our veterans, and to bring the tight-knit community of military families just a little bit closer.

A lot of times when we talk about veterans we think about our fathers and grandfathers. We think about older men from the Greatest Generation who beat the Nazis and liberated Europe. True, they are veterans, and also some of the finest men and women our nation has ever known. But as a Commander, I think of the young men and women who served and are serving. Our nation has been at war for longer than at any point in American history. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are facing more frequent deployments, my own son in law has around a dozen. The toll this takes on the warfighter and the family cannot be understated.

The transition from soldier to civilian is difficult, but when one carries the scars of war in their mind, heart and body, it makes it all the more difficult. About 22 veterans every day commit suicide, sadly Montana has some of the highest rates in the nation. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) haunts many of our veterans, and it takes more than just a cocktail of drugs from the Veterans Administration to cure. Veteran to veteran mentoring goes a long way, as does job training and personalized treatment plans. But nothing can replace the warm welcome of a community. Beyond providing a quiet place for veterans and family members to remember and reflect, the Northeast Veterans Memorial shows all our veterans that they are valued, and their service and sacrifice was not in vain. When a veteran is contemplating suicide, they need all the support they can get, even if they aren’t able to talk about it. Seeing a symbol of support will sometimes get them through a difficult day.

But we can all do more. Fixing the VA requires more than just throwing money at it. The VA faces organizational corruption and a bureaucratic culture, rather than an atmosphere of care. We must root out wrongdoers and pivot to the needs of today’s veterans, both men and women. That’s why I helped introduce and pass the VA Accountability Act and the Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act. Both of these bills will improve the VA and allow them to better serve our veterans when they come home from war.

Many people ask me why I felt the need to recognize Vietnam War veterans 50 years after the fact. To me it’s simple: They did not have the hero’s welcome home that they deserved. As Air Force Brigadier General Dale Stovall told the crowd gathered in Missoula, he took off his uniform in the airport and put it in the trash because he didn’t want to get spit on and called a baby killer. And as an Iraq war veteran shared after, he also takes his uniform off when he comes home, but it’s because of the incredible praise he receives when walking through the airport.

Very few answer the call of duty, and it takes a special character to fight for our nation. Building a veterans memorial is a wonderful way for a community to show their thanks to veterans who are still serving and to those who have long since passed. I applaud the community for coming together to build such a magnificent tribute, and I look forward to visiting it when I host a Vietnam veterans pinning ceremony in the area later this year.

Ryan Zinke is the Republican congressman for Montana’s at-large congressional district.