Dale

The day I met Dale, he was in the middle of a crowded San Francisco sidewalk. But he was very much alone. He was in his wheelchair, trying to position his body upright so he could pick through the contents of a garbage can. Swarms of people, tourists and businesspeople, hurried past. They all seemed too busy to stop and notice one man's struggle, one man's devastating plight.

If these people knew Dale's story, maybe they would not have hurried past so quickly. Dale spent 14 years serving our country, including two tours of Vietnam. As a result, he has serious health issues that confine him to a wheelchair. Yet, he says the only help he gets from the VA is free coffee and donuts.

The stories of homeless veterans are among the hardest to watch, if you ask me. These are men and women who were willing to wear the uniform, willing to put themselves in harms way. It must be tough to come to the realization that their country - the people and ideals that they fought for - are not half as eager to heal their pain, to have their backs. Seems there is just too much hurt and not enough money. Still, there is a lot of noise these days in Washington about ending the atrocity of veteran homelessness. It is critical that this talk become real, tangible solutions. Our veterans have waited long enough.

Today is Veteran's Day. Today we will remember the sacrifices of our Veterans and honor their unselfish service. The day I met Dale, he was in the middle of a crowd. But he was alone, picking through a garbage can.

This Veteran's Day, let's remember the plight of veterans - homeless in America. And let's resolve to do something about it.


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Category:

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• veteran
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[Teddynumba23]

this is wha america does for injured vetrans ??WTFFF!!!!!!!!! THIS MAKES ME SO ANGRY !!!!!!!!!!

[SLYGUY19440]

This ruined my day. WTF! The guy just tells it how it is without an once of bitching while saying SIR. He's a hero in more ways than one.

[jbiking01]

As a physician at the VA I can say for certain that this is not the whole story. The VA certainly provides more than free coffee and doughnuts. Co-pays are required only after a means assessment says a person can afford to pay

[andrewnconner]

I'm so sorry

[fightlol4]

wow one of the worst wars we ever fought and he spends his last days on the streets very nice......

[201greeneyes]

GOD BLESS HIM AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE LIKE HIM!!

[XdirtyjerseyX]

I am a veteran and I am not proud of the fact of how shitty this country really is to its people.. politicians can launch campaigns for elections that cost millions of tax payer and donated dollars, yet here this vet of TWO , not one but two tours of Vietnam sits barely hanging onto life. To top it all off even though his country is F'ing him, he still manages a salute...God bless you Dale

[PhiloAmericana]

Welcome to America. Welcome to the reality of American patriotism, superficial and skin-deep. I like to call it bumper-sticker patriotism because that's about as far as it extends.

[HighIQGarrysMod]

Whoa, i wanna help this guy!!! O.o

[izurz]

0:45 some douche bag littered

[patsaxon]

It is Bill Gates's money, not your money! This is not Bill Gates problem or any ones, unless someone feels like that they must help.