Our Veterans Deserve Better

These days we’ve all become used to graphic images of war flashing across our televisions. Bold headlines of military and civilian casualties alike leap out at us from the pages of our newspapers. These images and headlines feed the fire of millions of protestors, stateside and overseas, who are against our military presence in the Middle East. Well, the War on Terror is in it’s sixth year with no signs of an end so I think it’s safe to say that the images, headlines, and protests will continue to be a part of our national identity for some time to come.

However, personal opinions on the war aside, one thing I’ve always maintained is that the soldiers who continue to be sent to the front lines deserve our thanks and, most importantly, our profound respect.

That is why I was appalled to learn of veterans who were patients at the Alvin C. York Medical Center in Murfreesoboro, Tennessee. These veterans were recently notified that they could possibly be at risk for HIV and numerous other viral infections due to problems with equipment used for colonoscopies. The tubes used during the exams were fitted with incorrect valves that may have passed bodily fluids from patient to patient.

Does it seem right that this is the kind of treatment being received by the men and women who served their country, and fought to preserve our freedom? I’m a firm believer that numbers never tell the whole story, but the following numbers make it very hard to ignore the sacrifice and dedication these veterans have shown.

According to most sources, 291,557 American soldiers lost their lives during World War II. However, there are some studies that place that number closer to a sickening 500,000. There are currently nearly 60,000 names on the Vietnam wall. And, so far, the confirmed U.S. death toll in Iraq is close to 4,300.

The veterans who were treated at Alvin C. York Medical Center could have very easily been a statistic, a casualty of war. They could have lost their lives while fighting for our freedom. Instead, now their health, and their very lives, may be in jeopardy thanks to unsanitary practices during medical treatment. You can’t help but wonder how a major donor or investor would be treated at a hospital that had benefited from the patient’s generosity. I’d be willing to bet that they would be treated like royalty. Well, don’t our veterans deserve the same? After all, they’ve paid with their blood, sweat, and tears.