Gesture for vets appreciated; others would be nice, too

Editor, 

As a veteran, it is gratifying that restaurant chains such as Applebee's and Outback are offering free meals or appetizers to veterans on Veteran's Day. I must say, though, that the last thing I am inclined to do on Veteran's Day is to show up at a local restaurant and request my free meal. I can't explain why; I just wouldn't do it. And I doubt that I am the only veteran who feels this way.

And how would I prove I was a veteran anyway? Veterans who are not retirees don't have a convenient way to prove their military service; we are not issued a "veteran's card."

In America, merchants offer a wide variety of discounts to the population at large solely on the virtue of having reached a certain age. I have no objection to discounts for seniors; indeed, I am too rapidly approaching the point where these discounts will apply to me.

If we sincerely want to show appreciation to veterans, how about a similar program of discounts for them? The government could issue cards to veterans documenting our service; or I suppose we could make card-sized copies of our DD Form 214's and laminate them. The depth of the discounts offered to veterans would truly demonstrate how much their sacrifice is appreciated.

People entering the military today choose to set aside four years, six years or more during which their lives are literally not their own; they actually have less liberty than the citizens they are protecting. They may be sent anywhere at any time to do anything the government wishes, regardless of their personal situation.

Surely those who have made this choice are as entitled to a financial benefit as a senior citizen is.

Oh, and one more thing. Give veterans the day off on Veteran's Day, or a floating holiday if it falls on a weekend.

David Alexander

San Marcos