Other Voices: Do something to benefit vets

Veterans Day (Tuesday) is the one day in our nation's annual life when we get the opportunity to take some time from our busy schedules to think about those who put their lives on the line, many of whom have shed their blood and suffered life-changing injuries for our freedoms.

Beyond this very special day, in fact, all 364 other days, there are opportunities in abundance to give more to those few who have given so much for so many.

Surely, folks, we can all find time every day to do something for our veterans and their families. We all can help to provide leadership, service and empowerment for veterans from the Greatest Generation to the latest generation returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. For example:

If you're a leader, from our new president-elect and the incoming Congress to our mayors and county commissioners, use your leadership to make the political environment more veteran-friendly. And with specific regard to the new administration and Congress: You have it in your power to create a nation where veterans' benefits and health care are fully funded without all the politics. For example, last year President Bush's 2009 budget was short by $3 billion in key areas such as health care, prosthetics research, benefits processing and the construction of new hospitals and clinics. And the last Congress, after hours of testimony from Paralyzed Veterans of America and our partners, closed this gap. But you all, with great respect, can take the gridlock out of this vital funding issue. Why not just simply provide resources in a sufficient, timely and predictable fashion without all the political wrangling? We shouldn't have to beg for it every year. Our veterans deserve better.

If you provide a service, improve it by making it more wheelchair accessible. For example, if you own or operate a sports facility, follow the lead of the University of Michigan who eventually saw the light — after vigorous advocacy from Paralyzed Veterans and the Justice Department — to make the "Big House" an accessible house. This means that all people with disabilities and their families can enjoy our national sports. If you are an architect or a builder, make accessibility top of mind in your designs. A barrier-free America is not just good for paralyzed veterans and all people with disabilities, it's good for everyone.

If you can help empower a paralyzed veteran, please do so. For example, if you're a CEO, think about supporting initiatives, such as Paralyzed Veterans' emerging network of vocational rehabilitation offices. This public-private partnership between businesses, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Paralyzed Veterans of America has empowered hundreds of severely disabled veterans with the tools and counseling they need to get good jobs and matches them with employers who have vacancies. This program is literally helping paralyzed veterans go from hospital beds back into the workforce.

If you are grateful to our veterans and their families, please take a minute to thank them for their service. It means more than you might imagine.

This Veterans Day, I would like to express my thanks to every American for doing something good for paralyzed veterans, not just one day a year but year-round. We really appreciate the fact that you care.

Randy L. Pleva Sr. is national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. Visit www.pva.org to learn more about the organization's work.