Op/Ed: Memorial Day may be over but caring for our veterans in Indiana shouldn't be.
The month of May has no equal when it comes to being a Hoosier and a citizen of Indianapolis. It almost seems the month belongs to us, and the rest of the world can either visit to revel in the month’s pageantry or just go to sleep and wait for June.
May also brought many questions; like, will it rain on race day? What to get mama for Mother’s Day?
Did Doug Boles, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, actually go without sleep for 31 straight days?
Perhaps the most critical question, however, is, do we invest and care enough for our veterans?
The underlying foundation of the glory of May in Indiana is the unique way we commemorate Memorial Day. Indiana always has punched above its weight when it comes to serving in the military. For years, we had the fourth largest National Guard in the country (despite being ranked 17th in total population).
With these impressive numbers also comes the responsibility for supporting the men and women who have completed their service and need help in the next stage of their lives. As with donning the uniform, Hoosiers and diverse organizations have risen to meet the challenge.
Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF) is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year at a time when its services are more needed than ever. The numbers that detail stories of homelessness, mental health challenges and hunger among our vets are disproportionate and disheartening.
HVAF helps in a variety of ways, including housing, employment and legal assistance, and support with basic needs, including food, clothing and hygiene items that are distributed from the Col. Donald W. Moreau Sr. Veterans Community Center every Tuesday and Thursday.
Honoring our soldiers: Boyd: Hoosier man was awarded a Medal of Honor. Why doesn't he have it 117 years later?
Last year, nearly 70,000 pounds of food and clothing were dispensed to veterans in our community through HVAF’s pantry services.
Additionally, it recently added a full-time therapist to its team, recognizing the significant need for mental health services for those who have served.
“Unfortunately, veterans are often at the intersection of mental health struggles, increased substance use, higher risk of suicide, food insecurity and homelessness,” said Emmy Hildebrand, chief executive officer of HVAF of Indiana. “For 30 years, we’ve been providing housing and supportive services to the most vulnerable veterans in our community.”
A key result of its efforts is the fact that homelessness among veterans is down 35% in Indianapolis in 2022 as compared to previous years.
HVAF is certainly not the only organization paying back Hoosier veterans for their service. The Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs, INVets, and Bunker Labs are just a few of the others who are dedicated to workforce skills development, entrepreneurship and networking.
"Supporting veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs is a key economic development strategy often overlooked in our communities,” said Courtney Zaugg, founder of Plaka and Associates and The Venture Vets. “Our veterans have strong entrepreneurial skills, proven leadership capabilities and a willingness to take risks, setting the foundation for successful entrepreneurs and businesses here in Indiana."
It would be painful to know where our state would be without the leadership and impact of Hoosier veterans such as Richard Lugar, Tony Hulman, P.E. MacAllister, Andy Jacobs, Jr., Joe Kernan and so many others.
In four generations of my family, we have 16 veterans. None of us have said we regretted joining or that military service didn’t change our lives for the better. All of us — regardless of service — should dedicate more time and treasure to supporting veteran causes.
May in Indiana is unlike any other month in any other state in any other place in the world. As we flip the calendar, let’s please not forget the men and women who wear the uniforms that guarantee our freedoms and serve as a foundation for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Robert Vane is the principal at public relations firm Veteran Strategies Inc. He was deputy chief of staff and communications director in the Mayor Greg Ballard administration and served in the United States Army.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Honoring Hoosier veterans should continue past Memorial Day services.
