VivirLatino

How to Really Respect Veterans: Hook Them Up When They Come Back Home

13:47 H | Topics: Politics

Today is a day filled with memorial services and speeches in the name and for those who have served and continue to serve in the armed forces of the United States. While it is great to offer words and moments of silence, actions really do speak louder than words. As efforts to recruit young people of color and the numbers of Latinos in the military rise, many veterans return asking the U.S., what have you done for me lately?

After serving in foreign wars, many young soldiers return to the United States injured emotionally and physically and unable to find a job. According to a DiversityInc article, nearly 15 percent of veterans between the ages of 20-24 were unemployed in 2005. Compare that to the general civilian unemployment rate of 9 percent.

Willie L. Hensley, a black veteran who used to work in the Center for Minority Veterans ensuring that all people of color had access to benefits and services, now wants to fulfill the commitment the U.S. has made to veterans. He is now the associate deputy assistant secretary for Human Resources Management and is working on a program called "Fulfilling the Commitment – Coming Home to Work". This program helps disabled veterans with rehab and finding them career opportunities within military-assistance facilities. He is also setting up a web-based network that will be up next year for veterans to directly connect with employers.

The effects of such projects last way longer than any parade.

Via / DiversityInc

Related

• Victory for activists over WWII film (Wednesday, Apr 11 2007)
• Mexican-American Iraq War Veteran Facing Court Martial Today (Tuesday, Oct 10 2006)