Honoring veterans

Serving our country in the armed forces is one of the greatest acts of community service there is in America. Men and women give so much in order to keep our country safe. They serve in various capacities including Reserve forces, active duty, and National Guard. We owe so much to those who have made our freedom possible. A simple “thank you for your service” is not enough. There is more that should be done to express our gratitude for their sacrifices.  

In New Mexico, there are approximately 122,000 veterans which is roughly 8.2% of the state’s adult population. Of this number, 38.4% have a service-related disability, 11% of veterans are in a household receiving SNAP benefits, and 1 in 10 people experiencing homelessness is a veteran. Veterans don’t just give up time with their families to protect our communities; they make sacrifices that impact them years after their service. There is more we can do to support them when they come home. 

The Veterans Integration Center works to provide transitional services for veterans. Their focus is providing stable housing, building life skills, getting veterans into stable jobs, and most importantly, helping them find their place in the community. The goal of the VIC is to give veterans a hand up by supporting them in critical life areas to prevent the cycle of homelessness from continuing. 

While saying “thank you for your service” is the bare minimum, there is so much more we can do to show our gratitude to the people who keep our country and communities safe. Reach out to your legislators and let them know you support funding for veteran programs.