Veterans Affairs

There are few public policies more important than ensuring that veterans receive the care and honor that their service has earned them. Yet, wars on several fronts, tough economic times, ill-considered public policies, and an aging population have combined to stress some of the systems in place to support veterans. The results are stark – and, sometimes, shameful. There remain a large backlog of unprocessed veterans benefits claims, a challenging population of chronically homeless veterans, an increasing incidence of stress-related problems among soldiers returned from the war zones, a disconnection between available services and awareness of them, and some new challenges fueled by the increasing number of military women who have served in war zones.

There are some very visible signs of government’s commitment to veterans. The regional headquarters of the Veterans Administration is downtown on Pine Street. The massive John Cochran Division in Midtown is half of the multi-campus St. Louis VA Medical Center. But, the most public evidence of veterans affairs is the City of St. Louis’s Soldiers Memorial Museum on Chestnut Street. In the days when federal stimulus funds sometimes turned into landmarks, St. Louis Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann seized on the generosity of his fellow citizens and farsightedness of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works to commission a downtown building and plaza dedicated to commemorate “the spirit of sacrifice in war.” President Franklin Roosevelt himself came to the City to dedicate the site of the Soldiers Memorial and to predict construction of "a symbol of devoted patriotism and unselfish service." The limestone and granite structure (designed by local architects Mauran, Russell & Crowel), though in need of some significant refurbishment, remains an impressive and useful one. Members of Mayor Francis Slay's inaugural Vanguard Cabinet, for example, will meet there on February 20.

This week’s Mini-Poll asks you to let us know what you think about some of the issues faced by veterans. Thanks to Twitter follower Darcella Craven (@vetmomof2) for some guidance on these questions.