Obama honors veterans, promises benefits

On this Veterans Day, President Obama participated in ceremonies honoring all Americans who have donned a military uniform, touted the end of two wars and promised benefits for service members once they return.

"This is the first Veterans Day in a decade in which there are no American troops fighting and dying in Iraq," Mr. Obama said after laying a wreath at the Cemetery. "Thirty-three thousand of our troops have now returned from Afghanistan, and the transition there is underway."

Mr. Obama acknowledged that more than a million service members will have served in the two wars and will be transitioning away from the military and into civilian life. He recounted a promise he made on the campaign trail and during his first term: to provide benefits and help for veterans.

"I promised your generation that when your tour comes to an end, when you see our flag, when you touch our soil, you'll be welcomed home to an America that will forever fight for you, just as hard as you've fought for us," he said.

"[N]o one who fights for this country overseas should ever have to fight for a job, or a roof over their head, or the care that they have earned when they come home," Mr. Obama added. He promoted a program led by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden where 125,000 veterans have been hired by private businesses. He also touted the post-9/11 G.I. bill that provides financial assistance for veterans' higher education.

He said his administration is working to clear the backlog of disability benefits and treatments. "No veteran should have to wait months or years for the benefits that you've earned, so we will continue to attack the claims backlog. We won't let up. We will not let up," he said.

Mr. Obama offered his praise of current and past service members and their families. "I've often said the most humbling part of my job is serving as Commander-in-Chief," he said.

After the official ceremony ended, Mr. and Mrs. Obama stopped at the section of the cemetery, section 60, where service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan have been laid to rest.

20 Photos

Obama pays tribute on Veterans Day

[alanrobisch]

fascinating getting your benefits. Va benefits are generous. I live and have worked with veterans and have great respect for them. Obama is pandering. What additional benefits? How is he going to pay for them? We would be bankrupt if ordinary rules applied but the govt is printing money and borrowing 1.3 trillion a year. Where is the money going to come from?WE would need a 33% increase to close this gap without increased income and the economy is still slouching along as some call it the new normal.

[eroteme2]

Obama promised veterans benefits? He must, his specialty is the handing out of benefits of which he has an unlimited supply. If he were to not to promise veterans benefits it would show discrimination against them. Of course what he promises and what he delivers is not always the same.

[achememnon]

As a veteran I have seen the change in the VA for the better from this administration. Only the hateful GOP who are against America would complain and whine about veterans who have sacrificed for your freedom getting their benefits. You GOP nutcases are the most unAmerican people in the history of the US.

[crankyoleman]

How's that promise to fix the backlog of VA disability applications going?

[walkthetalk]

It would be very hard for me to serve under a man that says nobody told you to join the military and what's wrong with you paying your own health insurance. Maybe we should say the same thing to the President and congress about their own heavily subsidized health insurance? Heaven forbid but if the need ever arose, i could never envision him standing in harms way to defend our country for any reason.

[achememnon]

Or any other President for that matter, because if you are going to ask this of Obama you have to take it away from the bushs and clinton and every other President before but I doubt you would do that to those white one's of the past.

[TJphoto]

Monday, Nov 12th 2012. Over 80% of the people who get the day off with pay never served a day in their life. Can anyone name a politician who is willing to stand up and say that is right. The Veterans of this Country are going to get up this morning and go to work. The V.A is nothing more than a Government bureaucracy. In our Government's eyes, we are expendable. U.S. Army 1970-1974, & U.S. Army Reserves 1978-1983 11B2P To our elected leaders, go ahead and wrap yourself in the flag and tell the public how wonderful we are....Today and today only. BTW 50 million dollars is being spent today just so these people can have a three day weekend!

[catsmilee]

obama is a disgrace to the name commander in chief... ask any of his troops.. or the parents of the dead and maimed... heck, he can't even be bothered to write a personalized note when his stupid roes get them killed - just a robo-signing (know this personally). He does not bother to go see his men... roes deny air support and prosecute his men for simply fighting the enemy ... he can care less that our boys blown up body parts are staked on poles and paraded around town by the enemy... as long as our boys don't get too aggressive in going after the enemy.

[Fed_up_Fed]

Hm...during the election season, catsmilee, President Obama outraised Romney by more than 2:1 from active duty soldiers. That is to say, the troops CLEARLY liked the current president to the wannabe he just whooped.

Oh, and I'm a Veteran who likes him quite a bit, myself. I think you need to crawl back under your rock.

[nolalou]

Your comment is beyond stupid ! This commander in chief is NOT the one to sent thousands of our troops to die in a war based on lies in Iraq! And You're worried about a personalized note!

[dbradd98]

Support HR 2052 Ft McClellan Health Registry Act To Help Veterans

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2052

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/07/60minutes/main528581.shtml

http://www.epa.gov/region4/superfund/sites/npl/alabama/anpcbstal.html


To help Ft McClellan veterans who were stationed at Ft McClellan, Alabama and who were exposed to toxic chemicals without their knowledge. These Ft McClellan veterans are currently very sick, many have already died and are now dying because of exposure to toxic chemicals while at Ft McClellan.
HR 2052 Ft McClellan Health Registry Act is currently in legislation in Congress and is stalled in committees. We need to move it out of committees and onto the House floor for a vote. We, Ft McClellan veterans, need this bill. We did not know that we were being exposed to toxic chemicals while at Ft McClellan, Alabama.


We need HR 2052 Ft McClellan Health Registry Act to be moved out of committees and onto the House floor for a vote now! This bill is deliberately being stalled in Congress.

[dbradd98]

Support HR 2052 Ft McClellan Health Registry Act To Help Veterans

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2052

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/07/60minutes/main528581.shtml

http://www.epa.gov/region4/superfund/sites/npl/alabama/anpcbstal.html


To help Ft McClellan veterans who were stationed at Ft McClellan, Alabama and who were exposed to toxic chemicals without their knowledge. These Ft McClellan veterans are currently very sick, many have already died and are now dying because of exposure to toxic chemicals while at Ft McClellan.
HR 2052 Ft McClellan Health Registry Act is currently in legislation in Congress and is stalled in committees. We need to move it out of committees and onto the House floor for a vote. We, Ft McClellan veterans, need this bill. We did not know that we were being exposed to toxic chemicals while at Ft McClellan, Alabama.


We need HR 2052 Ft McClellan Health Registry Act to be moved out of committees and onto the House floor for a vote now! This bill is deliberately being stalled in Congress.

[Layla_22]

sooner_schooner, you are really pathetic, just like your greedy, selfish, rich and wanna be richer, deceitful, demeaning Republican and tea party buddies. We should all give honor, thanks and respect to those who have sacrificed their lives and their family lives for us. Have you sacrificed? I doubt it, or you would not make such a stupid idiot (like most GOP) of yourself.

Some lost their lives, some are sill living with and suffering from injuries, sacrifices of their families (young and old), and this is the snotty comment you have? Someone should kick your A..out of America. I am sure you paid your taxes, just like Romney at the rate of 9% or less. You are probably claiming horses, and not dependent children, as well. However, those few dimes you gave are sitting there in your SS funds waiting for you. Unlike a lot of vets who lost their lives, they won't be around to claim theirs, and by the way, they pay taxes too you greedy, selfish, hateful, monster.

Such a pity you dodged the draft, just like your buddy Romney....cause it would be nice if you were forced to go to the military; It would be even nicer if you were placed on the very front line.

How dare you make a comment like this, you thankless, arrogant, hateful snob.

[Ulgnud]

Although I cannot think of a more deserving group, Sooner is right to a point. The real secret to Obama's success is handouts. I served many years in uniform. I am grateful I don't have to serve under him. He stands for everything my oath of office requires us to protect the US Constitution and The US from.

[murkymook]

When was the US ever attacked by Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Qatar, or Vietnam? If these guys want to go attack and kill people who have never doen the same to us, I'm not honoring them. Except for Vietnam, they chose to do this. Afghanistan is different. Perhaps you are the one who should be leaving this country.

[AOCGUY]

I suspect that sooner_schooner has never had the gonads to put on a uniform and serve his country. This POS thinks he can use the sacrifices of good and brave men and women as a political punchline. I reccommend he crawl back into his mother's basement and s t f u.