Thomas Daschle: “In 1898, as the Spanish-American War drew to a close, then-COL Theodore Roosevelt warned his Rough Riders about the…”

“In 1898, as the Spanish-American War drew to a close, then-COL Theodore Roosevelt warned his Rough Riders about the reception they would receive once they returned home: The world will be kind to you for 10 days. Everything you do will be all right. After that, you will be judged by a stricter code. We have come a long way in the treatment of our veterans, and our recent commemoration of Memorial Day, our dedication of the World War II Memorial, the observance of the 60th anniversary of D-day, attest to the gratitude our Nation feels toward the men and women who have defended our freedom. Ultimately, the real test of our gratitude, however, is not found in parades or ceremonies. The real test is whether we honor our promises and provide our veterans with the help and benefits they need. Sadly, we are not meeting that test. In recent years, large numbers of veterans have seen their health care delayed or denied outright. The reason is clear: Our system for funding the VA is broken.”