If there is one thing all Americans can agree on, on paper, it is that we need to support our veterans.  After the terrible trauma of blaming returning Vietnam veterans for the Vietnam war, the country seems to have learned its lesson, separating the warrior from the war.  Yet there is an underlying nastiness that is nearly unprecedented.  On Saturday, First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden were co-grand marshals, along with Iraq veteran Sgt. Andrew Berry, of the final race of the NASCAR season to promote Joining Forces, a program that supports the troops and their families.  The crowd cheers for Berry morphed into boos for the two first ladies.  For more illustration of our country’s soul-destroying partisan bickering, read the comments.  Who cares about our veterans?

The VA is also bumping up telephone support to help spouses of returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan.  The Caregiver Support Program is designed to help spouses help their spouses reintegrate into the civilian world.

One thing the country can seem to agree on is tax credits designed to get veterans working. “The president believes that no veteran who fought for our country should have to fight for a job when they come home,” the White House said as President Obama signed a new law giving tax credits for employers who hire veterans.  The White House hopes that the financial incentive will encourage businesses to begin hiring again and help stem the unemployment crisis for returning soldiers.

 

In fact, one town in West Virginia has made hiring veterans a priority.  Chesapeake, West Virginia, invites former service members interested in working in the natural gas industry to contact them.