"Whenever they’ve been needed, the members of America’s armed forces have risen to the challenge of protecting our nation from foes around the world. Our veterans remain the reason the United States is today the world's shining beacon of freedom and prosperity. Veterans Day is a day set aside to honor them and the sacrifices they’ve made on our behalf, and we must never lose sight of the debts we owe them. That’s why programs like ‘Hiring Red, White and You,’ among others, are so important in connecting our returning veterans with employers seeking talented, experienced individuals to work for them. In its first year, ‘Red, White and You’ job fairs led to roughly 2,800 hires, and this year, we want to top that number significantly. These brave men and women risk all for love of country, and Texans will always do our part to welcome our veterans home."
"Hiring Red, White, and You" is a Texas program designed to help employers find key, responsible, and reliable employees with leadership abilities who display initiative, motivation, and perseverance in the face of adversity. That is, they help marry private sector companies to veterans who can do great work for them.
Today, one demographic that the BLS economic reports continually fail to highlight is the high rate of unemployment among recently separated (discharged) veterans. They prefer to use racial and gender demographics rather than important ones. The current U3 unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan era veterans is about 10%, 2.7% higher than the overall reported U3 unemployment rate. It's not any lack of skill or experience that keeps these fine men or women from employment. It isn't a lack of work ethic. It isn't the lack of any government incentives, either. Companies get tax breaks for hiring veterans. It appears there is a prejudice against these veterans due to the very misleading and often fallacious depictions of veterans, PTSD, and TBI.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas published this statement on Veterans Day:
"On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the fighting between the Allies and Germany ceased. Today, we commemorate that moment by thanking our veterans who have continued the quest to preserve our peace and freedom.
"We should all be proud of our country’s long tradition of service. General John J. Pershing eloquently expressed his thanks in a letter to the troops who helped win the “war to end all wars,” that is just as relevant now as it was then.
"Pershing wrote, 'By willing sacrifice of personal rights; by cheerful endurance of hardship and privation; by vigor, strength and indomitable will, made effective by thorough organization and cordial co-operation, you inspired the war-worn Allies with new life and turned the tide of threatened defeat into overwhelming victory.'
"We are so fortunate that throughout history, millions of Americans have come forward to fight tyrants, fascists, communists, and terrorists to keep us free.
"Still, we live in a violent world, where the freedoms we enjoy remain exceptional to millions of less fortunate forced to abide by brutal dictators, oppressive regimes, and cultures of intolerance.
"The persistent threats of terrorism at home and abroad are reminders of how precious it is to be an American and how fiercely our rights must be protected.
"We are blessed to live in a society where men and women continue to fight for our flag. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, more than 3 million Americans have volunteered to defend their country, knowing full well the risks they may face. More than 50,000 are serving in Afghanistan right now.
"They, like millions of veterans before them, are willingly putting themselves in danger to keep us safe."Thank you.
"President Calvin Coolidge once said, 'The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.' He was right.
"Please join me on this Veterans Day in saying a prayer of thanks for our veterans. And, please find a veteran. Grab their hand. Look them in the eye and tell them, “Thank you for your service.”
"We will never be able to express enough thanks for the troops, but they must always know they are treasured.
"May God bless the veterans, may God bless all those who continue to protect our country, and may God bless the United States of America.
"All the best,"
Ted Cruz
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.