A Salute to Veterans

* On this Veterans Day and every day, I hope we remember the sacrifices made by American patriots who served in the military and their families. When they were called, they served--no ducking, no dodging. They did the right thing, the only thing. They had what I call the three virtues: fidelity, devotion and the love of their country.

War is risky business, as we all know. Even in today’s military, service is not without risk, as we have recently seen. I hope we are grateful as a nation and as individuals to the men and women of the armed forces. They come from every corner of every city in Ventura County and throughout the country.

Even with a recent 5% pay raise, more than 12,000 service people still qualify for food stamps while serving their country. Is that the best we can do, in this great nation of abundance, for those who give so much for our freedom?

I think not.

On this Veterans Day, I urge you to write your representatives to encourage them to act responsibly and really boost the standard of living for those in the military, before one more pay or benefit raise is ever given to themselves. We can do better for those in uniform.

And yes, you might send up a quiet prayer on a regular basis for the brave young men and women in uniform who so proudly serve their country, only asking for you to remember them.

ROBERT HAMMER

U.S. Marines Corps retired

Thousand Oaks