Letter To The Editor: Honoring And Helping On Veterans Day

To the editor:

Today, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, a time to pay tribute to all veterans, living or dead, for their service.

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, when the horrific conflict of World War I finally came to an end – in the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.

America’s service members have had to return to the fields, the skies and the seas of war, and have been on the peace-time ready in the years since World War I and in fact, in all the years since 1776.

Our veterans acted selflessly in their efforts to protect our nation and its people. They love our country and its many opportunities and have proudly worn her uniforms – Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and now, Space Force.

Many have also paid a high price in their service, suffering physical and psychological wounds or both. They have endured long periods away from their families and friends. But time and again, the American veteran was the only line between good and evil, between living in freedom and living under tyranny.

The abrupt withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan earlier this year devastated many of our veterans and to them, we owe a special note of gratitude this Veterans’ Day. They fought long and hard and we are thankful for what they accomplished during their time in-country.

Anyone who would like to assist our veterans, can locate highly rated nonprofits dedicated to providing services to veterans and military service members, included those wounded or disabled, here: https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm...

The Rockland County Veterans Services Agency also offers important resources to veterans: http://rocklandgov.com/departments/veterans-service-agency/

And if you are a veteran, and you need to talk to someone today or any day, please call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. You can also send a text to 838255 or conduct an online chat by visiting https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

Thank you veterans for your service and dedication to our nation. Thank you for all that you have done because you love the United States and her opportunities, freedom and democracy.

Phil Soskin

Rockland County Legislator

Legislator Soskin is an Army veteran who served from November 1956 to November 1958, mostly in France.