Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) marches in the Veterans Day Parade in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
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The hospital serves more than 112,000 veterans annually with its inpatient and outpatient services.RETURNING MEDALSThe family of a World War II veteran from New Jersey has his missing military medals back, thanks to another veteran who was rummaging through a flea market.
At Arlington National Cemetery, President Obama laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns paying tribute to veterans and their families.
President Barack Obama on Wednesday asked his fellow countrymen to keep veterans in their thoughts long after the annual holiday honoring them and to help ensure they receive the care and benefits they have earned.
This effort is part of the administration’s goal of improving how the government treats veterans since the revelations that veterans were waiting 30 days or more for medical appointments through the Department of Veterans Affairs in Phoenix, Arizona.
“We have made historic investments to boost the VA budget, expand benefits, offer more mental-health care and improved care for our wounded warriors, especially those with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury”, Obama said.
But the president admitted there are still challenges following the 2014 scandal involving extended wait times and lack of access to healthcare at Veteran’s Affairs facilities across the country.
For the last bit, Obama said, “I am still not satisfied”. The president also praised the VA for helping tens of thousands of homeless veterans find places to live.
“Our veterans will tell you themselves they may have put away their uniforms, but they’re not finished serving their country”, Mr. Obama said.
In his remarks, the president acknowledged that much work remains to be done to successfully reintegrate US war veterans into civilian life. Known as “America’s Parade” it features over 20,000 participants, including veterans of numerous eras, military units, businesses and high school bands and civic and youth groups.
Allen Horton, a Vietnam War veteran, and his daughter, Ka’Marie Horton, 9, salute during the Pledge of Allegiance at the Veterans Day ceremony at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, Wednesday, November 11, 2015.
French President François Hollande, left, greets the niece of a French veteran at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier under the Arc de Triomphe during the Armistice Day ceremonies.
There has been tremendous progress in “reducing the outrage of veterans’ homelessness”, the president said.
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The most successful aspect of Obama’s push to make veterans’ lives better has been convincing American companies to hire more vets, and the bulk of his remarks at Arlington mirrored that.
