VETERANS DAY will be observed by Post Five of the American Legion and many other veterans groups in Rome on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the “Grave of the Known Soldier” at Rome’s Myrtle Hill cemetery.

I hope that all Greater Romans will make an effort to be there. Following the service at Myrtle Hill we swill return to Post Five Home for Flag retirement program, and if you have never seen that you most certainly should make it a point to be there.

But even as we honor America’s veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress have been reluctant to acknowledge the many veterans who have suffered scars too deep to see.

Since the VA Outreach Clinic was located in Rome many more have sought help there. The last count was more than 5,000 patients there. This writer has written to our congressman asking for help in acquiring the old (now closed), Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital as a site for a much needed veterans nursing and living home and an eye-ear clinic that is so badly needed in this area. However as of this writing, I have received no response.

It is my most fervent wish that the many veterans of this area be afforded the health care promised them, close enough to be able to travel to get it right here in Northwest Georgia. The sacrifices of military service are many , the rewards are few. The young men and women of today’s military and their families must be praised for all that they do for this great nation, fighting to ensure that they are free.

This writer is especially overjoyed by the results of the National Forty Days of Prayer for our nation before the elections. Next time you see a man or woman in uniform of our Nation stop and tell them how much you appreciate them, (something that this writer and millions of others never heard). May we all daily pray for their safe return. Also pray for our nation and that we will soon turn our faces back toward God. God bless each of you and God bless America.