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Benefits: VA must do right by those who served

Imagine being the bureaucrats running the federal agency in charge of ensuring the United States does right by those who were willing to fight and die for this country, and needing to be told to “quickly develop a comprehensive plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and Services.”

A group of 35 U.S. senators, both Republican and Democrat, was concerned enough to send a letter saying just that, earlier this week. Our own Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was among them.

“More than two million veterans served during the Global War on Terrorism, including more than 800,000 in Afghanistan, and these service members deserve and earned the support that they need. We appreciate the VA’s commitment to providing mental health services to all veterans and ask, in light of the current situation, that the Department accelerate its efforts to provide resources — to veterans of these recent conflicts,” the letter said.

Think about how ordinary citizens have been affected watching video and reading news about our withdrawal from Afghanistan and the end of a 20-year war that appears to have gotten us no where. Consider the trauma “the current situation” is inflicting upon the men and women who did what their country asked of them, for two decades.

Those of us who have never served cannot fathom what they might be going through.

But surely there are some at the Department of Veterans Affairs who can. Surely there are some who understand the sense of urgency behind the senators’ letter and are already working on that outreach effort.

Should that group of senators and the rest of Congress find out the VA is dragging its heels, consequences must be swift. These and all veterans deserve better.

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