By Congressman Markwayne Mullin
For families across the country, Memorial Day Weekend means barbeques, an extra day off work, and the beginning of summer vacation for our kids. But even with many fun activities happening, we should never forget the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is when we set aside time to remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives to defend our country. It is a day of remembrance and a day to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice because without that sacrifice, we would not enjoy the freedoms we have as Americans.
On this day when we remember those who lost their lives in service, we should also remember those who lost their personal battles at home. Many of our men and women in uniform who come back from warzones overseas face mental health struggles once they return. From 2006 to 2018, there were 3,863 self-inflicted deaths by members of our military on active-duty. And in 2016 alone, 6,079 veterans died from suicide, including 110 in Oklahoma.
As a country, we have made great strides in ensuring our veterans have access to the help they need, but we can do better. This past week, the House of Representatives passed several bills aimed at improving veterans’ lives. The FIGHT Veteran Suicide Act will help track instances of veteran suicides and the Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act will provide better support for those who work day in and day out to prevent this tragedy. Another bill will expand readjustment counseling services and other mental health services that veterans rely on.
We owe no greater debt than to the men and women who have put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms. When our veterans sign up for service, they commit to protecting the lives of all Americans. We must keep our commitment to them.
As Americans, it is our duty to honor those fallen and support our veterans. I hope this weekend you’ll take the time to remember those who sacrificed for our freedoms and pray for our troops and veterans who may be struggling.
