COLUMN: What does service mean to you?
Veterans Day for me means I will be the recipient of ritualistic platitudes such as “Thank you for your service,” from people who have no concept of the rewards or costs of service. I don't think those who repeat this mantra have ill intent, and I know that repeating such phrases is actually done with extreme gratitude. It is simply done without understanding the sacrifices that were made.
The Army defines selfless service as placing the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own. It involves prioritizing the needs of the mission and your teammates over personal interests, recognition or gain, and it is a fundamental commitment to the greater good of the team and the country.
For me, service is an all-encompassing drive to selflessness and the accomplishment of a mission, regardless of personal cost. I am very fortunate because my service has had profound costs for me, and I have succeeded despite these challenges. Unfortunately, the cost for many of my friends was everything. Making the ultimate sacrifice is often seen as death, and for those grieving the loss of those they loved, this is true. For many veterans, there is a fate worse than death, which is living with the consequences of our service.
The American government has developed an entire Cabinet-level executive department within the Executive Branch tasked with mitigating that cost. The mission statement of the Department of Veterans Affairs is “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”
I often find myself disillusioned with the VA federal system, which seems more concerned with the VA system itself, rather than the veterans. This promise is not being fulfilled in Central Washington.
I consider myself lucky, but that's not entirely true. My “luck” is rooted in deep, hard work on the visible and invisible wounds of war, so that I can find a semblance of peace and success. Much of this luck was due to resources provided by the VA as I healed. The VA does amazing things, but they just don't do them here in the Columbia Basin. Often, we as veterans suffer from these wounds, and our family members face the consequences. If we continue to ignore the traumas and consequences of those traumas, their consequences will reverberate into future generations just as it has for generations past, unless we choose to break this cycle of dysfunction.
Despite the federal government's unfulfilled promises to our local veterans of the War on Terror, the longest war in U.S. history, our local communities are stepping up to provide essential support. While we may not have the support of the VA here in the Columbia Basin, our county commission and state representatives are doing what they can to help.
What they have supported is a partnership between FOB Columbia, Bates Counseling Services and Grant County Veterans Services, working together for holistic, wrap-around services for our veterans. I am truly grateful to our county commissioners, as they have been the driving force behind everything we have accomplished so far. We came to them with the seed of an idea, and they have given us soil and nutrients to grow and come together to support the veteran community, and supporting future plans within reason. This is what it looks like to be thankful for our service.
If you are a veteran, please come visit us at Grant County Veterans Services, located at 1008 W. Ivy Ave, Moses Lake, WA 98837. Please let us know what resources you may need. If you are interested in supporting veterans, please stop by. We may not need your help today, but having more resources available for the future is always beneficial.
Please, instead of thanking me for my service this year, reach out to our Grant County commissioners and thank them for building capacity where there was none. Ask them to continue supporting Grant County Veterans Services as we grow to meet the needs of our community.
Rob Bates
SFC USA ret., MA, LMHC
Bates Counseling Services, Quincy