Veterans Day: No Longer Just A "Man's Holiday"

Today is Veterans' Day in the United States, a day when we pause to recognize those who have served in our nation's armed services. Veterans' Day is traditionally a man's holiday, where we honor the men who have fought and died in our nation's wars. However, the number of female veterans has doubled over the last twenty years, from 4% in 1988 to 8% this year. This number will only continue to grow as our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan continues.

It is important to pay tribute to all veterans, including female veterans. According to the IAVA, more than 212, 000 female service members have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, making up 11% of the force over there. More than 600 have been wounded in the combined wars and more than 120 women have died, including Staff Sgt. Amy C. Tirador of Albany, New York, who died November 4 in Kirkush, Iraq.

While we honor the sacrifices of veterans and their families, this is also an opportunity to examine our national priorities. According to a Congressional Research Service report, we have spent $944 billion on the global war on terror since 2001 (as of the end of FY2009). $683 billion (72%) was spent on Iraq alone.

$683 billion dollars for what was arguably a war of choice. Imagine what we could do with that money:

• We could begin to care for our veterans and their families better. With a relatively tiny price tag of $3.7 billion over the next five years, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009 (S. 1963) will provide much needed enhancements in health care for female veterans, include support for family caregivers, expand mental health services, improve care for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and add vitally needed services for homeless veterans.

• We could also begin to address the needs of our female veterans, including appropriate facilities, staffing and services at all VA clinics and hospitals. CRS estimates that less than $9.44 billion (less than 1% of the war bill) was spent on medical care for all veterans over the last eight years. S.1963 includes long-overdue provisions for women's health.

• Finally, we could begin to better care for the health of all Americans. $683 billion would pay for half to three-fourths of the House health care bill's estimated $894 billion-$1.2 trillion price tag

As we honor our veterans today, I will personally remember the 4,365 American soldiers who have died and at least 31,557 soldiers have been wounded in Iraq alone.  I am grateful and humbled by their service and unbelievable courage. I hope President Obama and his advisers will remember each of these men and women as they decide how many troops to send to Afghanistan.

Photo credit: kevindooley on Flickr