Ernst: Veterans Day, an important holiday about service

 As a current Lt. Colonel in the Iowa National Guard and wife of a 28 year retired Army Ranger, I have been humbled to know and serve with so many of our finest men and women who have worn this nation’s uniform to defend our shared freedoms and protect our way of life. These brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coastguardsmen and their families, have served as worldwide defenders of freedom, humanitarian heroes, and when required, warriors in defense of America and her citizens. 

America’s bravest stormed the beaches at Normandy, fought in the battle of Iwo Jima to save the world from one of the most dangerous threats ever faced, stand post at our embassies and installations in challenging locations across the globe and deploy for yearlong-plus assignments in remote locales in order to quietly and unceremoniously ensure our national interests are protected. 

Veterans Day provides us with a holiday, a singular calendar day, to publicly recognize and give thanks to all of our veterans for such sacrifices by way of parades and ceremonies, placement of flags on lawns and parks, and even quiet and personal remembrances of those who made the ultimate sacrifice or remain missing in action in defense of the greatest nation ever known to man. But as we participate in this meaningful and heartfelt pageantry, if our aim is to truly show how grateful we are for their service, this holiday must extend beyond Nov. 11, 2013 – it must serve as a catalyst to give back to our currently estimated 21 million living veterans for each of the remaining 364 days of each and every year that follows.

We have asked a great deal of our men and women in uniform and they have answered the call with dignity, character and courage – many missing births of children, spending 21st birthdays on foot patrols and Christmases out at sea. It is now incumbent upon us as a nation to honor our promises – to take care of them upon their return and in their time of need. In that mission, we have much work to do: 

Today, the unemployment rate for our younger veterans (ages 18-24) stands at 19.5 percent as compared to the national average of 7.3 percent. While a percentage of those veterans may not be actively seeking employment, there are still tens of thousands of young, highly trained and motivated individuals who need a job.

Our quality of care for those veterans who are eligible and in need must dramatically improve – especially in the still-lacking area of mental health care:

- Recent reports show that veterans who are for the first time seeking care for mental health troubles are waiting too long – even beyond the federal government target of 14 days. 

- It takes an average of one month for veterans to begin seeing a military provided psychiatrist.

As we celebrate Veterans Day with family and friends, it remains important to publicly show our veterans just how much we appreciate their service. Please do participate in these celebrations any way you are able. However, on Tuesday morning we as a nation must move beyond these heartfelt, yet symbolic gestures, to advance on the hard work that will be required to ensure that those who have served are taken care of here at home. It is a promise I can assure you that I will continue to work toward here in Iowa and as your next United States Senator.

May God bless each and every one of you, our brave veterans, past and present, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Joni Ernst is a state senator from Red Oak and is currently running for the U.S. Senate.