As a spouse of a former active duty vet (two tours in Iraq with the 3ID...the third-most deployed unit in this engagement) and a current National Guard vet (one tour in the middle east), I certainly will vote yes for Issue 1.
The "benefits" that soldiers get are nice. Very good health care. Nice housing allowances. Combat pay. Hazard duty pay. Separation pay. But, please believe me, they aren't "bonuses." Those men and women EARN every single penny they make. How many civilians and their families must "purchase" their excellent health insurance benefits or salary with 2.5 years of separation from their loved ones? How many civilians miss the births, birthdays, first days of school and graduations of their children in order to pay their bills and serve their country?
My husband chose to serve his country, and I am proud to be a military spouse, but what the veterans (past and present) have "earned" doing their duty cannot possibly be compensated! That small "bonus" the state would allow is basically a thank you gift, and when I think of all the other programs and issues that require money in our state today, I feel that appreciating the sacrifice these men and women made (and continue to make) is a priority.
While it certainly isn't much, that extra little bit might help some out-of-work combat vet have a little nicer Christmas with his or her family, or it may just help pay some of the bills that accumulate when a Guardsman returns to such a terrible economy with little chance to find a decent-paying job. Our family has been extremely lucky and blessed, but not all vets are in the same position we are.
Vote yes on Issue 1 to give Ohio veterans a bonus
As a spouse of a former active duty vet (two tours in Iraq with the 3ID...the third-most deployed unit in this engagement) and a current National Guard vet (one tour in the middle east), I certainly will vote yes for Issue 1.
The "benefits" that soldiers get are nice. Very good health care. Nice housing allowances. Combat pay. Hazard duty pay. Separation pay. But, please believe me, they aren't "bonuses." Those men and women EARN every single penny they make. How many civilians and their families must "purchase" their excellent health insurance benefits or salary with 2.5 years of separation from their loved ones? How many civilians miss the births, birthdays, first days of school and graduations of their children in order to pay their bills and serve their country?
My husband chose to serve his country, and I am proud to be a military spouse, but what the veterans (past and present) have "earned" doing their duty cannot possibly be compensated! That small "bonus" the state would allow is basically a thank you gift, and when I think of all the other programs and issues that require money in our state today, I feel that appreciating the sacrifice these men and women made (and continue to make) is a priority.
While it certainly isn't much, that extra little bit might help some out-of-work combat vet have a little nicer Christmas with his or her family, or it may just help pay some of the bills that accumulate when a Guardsman returns to such a terrible economy with little chance to find a decent-paying job. Our family has been extremely lucky and blessed, but not all vets are in the same position we are.
November 3, 2009 at 2:54 p.m. permalink suggest removal