Deep thanks to great Americans

Lindenhurst, L.I.: Let us remember this Veterans Day, the eleventh day of the eleventh month, to honor all veterans. There are times when we reexamine that which is important — perhaps Veterans Day is one of those times to salute all veterans of past and current wars. United by the irony of wars, we hold patriotism close. It is one of those times to give back to the veteran. I’m in good relations as my father was a WWII combat veteran, and my husband Robert is a veteran from the Vietnam era, too. All veterans are heroes in their answer to the call of duty. Suddenly the fictional surreal hero becomes real by the courage of military in war, the heroic feats by the brave, fatality and sacrifices plagued by war. The real heroes are the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice and did not come back.

Perhaps one day wars will cease and it will be a day of peace. Freedom is not free. Give thanks to veterans. God bless America. Susan Davniero

Simple gratitude

Sea Cliff, L.I.: In honor of Veterans Day, thank you to our selfless men and women serving in our military, past and present. Love and gratitude to both my parents, who proudly served our country in the United States Navy during World War II. Lynne Larsen

Heroes in the family

Brooklyn: As I reflect upon this Veterans Day, I realize the only new information I’ll receive about World War II will now be gleaned from a book or documentary. There was a time, however, when I used to get it straight from the source. My grandfather, James, flew 36 missions as a navigator on a B-29. His plane was shot down twice and he received the Purple Heart. He owned a furniture store on Long Island for 60 years along with his business partner, George, my great uncle, a former paratrooper who was a 19 year old POW of the Germans. If you asked my grandfather for the day off on your birthday, his usual response would be, “Off on your birthday? You know what I did once on my birthday? Bombed Palermo!” Sadly, these hardscrabble men are mostly gone, but if you knew them, you understand what American treasures they were.

JB McGeever

Women in uniform

Brooklyn: With Veterans Day here, it is time to salute our military veterans, especially those lady veterans. They too put in hard work in every branch of the service. They get their pretty hands and faces dirty. There are many ladies who are now civilians, they are housewives, work in offices, etc. We pass them every day on the street. So when flying the flag, remember them all with pride. Joseph V. Comperchio

They don’t stop serving

Manhattan: Veterans Day was at one time called Armistice Day to recognize the anniversary of World War I. We now recognize the service of all veterans who have served honorably. Veterans served all over the world and many after their service became members of veterans organizations (ex. DAV, VVA, VFW, Iraq and Afghanistan), and individual chapters in their home states. These veterans give to their communities, assist other vets in need, and also give to humanity programs in countries of their previous service (ex. Vietnam, giving to schools). There are more veterans who have given their lives than in any other profession. It is my belief that if not for the veteran, there would not be our country. Our family shares a heartfelt thank you for all veterans, and also respect for the Veterans Administration for their work in progress in the care for veterans! Louis Cohen

Honor delayed, not denied

Houston: Filipino vets from World War II were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal last month. How can my father, WWII veteran Moises Hortaleza, receive his medal? He is going to be 96 years on Nov. 25.

Rebecca H. Directo

Battling the bureaucracy

Junction City, Kan.: My husband Bruce is a veteran. He has deployed three times, received several medals and accommodations in his 17 years of service. He served four years of active duty and then turned to the USAR where he has been since. In 2013, my husband applied for VA disability due to injuries that he received while serving. His claim was approved, and he started receiving 60% disability from the VA. In 2015, his benefits were terminated due to an overpayment. We have been fighting to have them reinstated and have gotten nowhere. We have requested help from the DAV as well as Sen. Jerry Moran’s office. We still have not received any response. We are four months behind on our house payment and face possible foreclosure along with loss of utilities. Every time I call the VA to request a status I get apologies and told to do this or that. We have submitted every request they have asked for. Now we have been told that it could be another six months before they have a decision. It appears that the VA would rather see a disabled veteran and his family homeless, rather than restore his benefits. Nichole Mader

Protect our heritage

Londonderry, N.H.: On this Veterans Day, our families wish to remember all of our veterans, including our family members who served in all of the major wars from the Gulf War to Vietnam, Korea, WWII, WWI, the Spanish American War and the Civil War. We are disappointed with the removal of statues of Confederate generals, and thereby contributing to rewriting U.S. history. We believe these statues were placed to commemorate the service of some brilliant military minds and they were not meant to be racist. About 150 Confederate generals graduated from West Point and served during the Civil War. We should not be obliterating U.S. history. Leave the statues standing, and honor all veterans.

Elizabeth & Donald Moskowitz

A President we can’t salute

Pompton Plains, N.J.: As a twotime Army veteran, I remain surprised at the lack of publicity given to Donald Trump’s successful campaign to evade the draft at the height of the Vietnam War with five deferments. Who knows how many strings were pulled by his wealthy father Fred — or checks written to the ordinary citizens on the local draft board? They even claimed he had a bad heel — I believe he has played several hundred rounds of golf on that “defective” heel. My solution: Stick Trump in a uniform, teach him to fire a rifle instead of his mouth and ship him to wherever Americans are in combat. That’s at least a start in atoning for his cowardice. I call him our draft-dodger-in-chief.

Harry F. Waters

Son of a gun

Metuchen, N.J.: Mike Lupica’s repeated referencing of his father’s military service as if it bestows some sort of honorary veteran status on Lupica himself is beginning to sound a bit unseemly. I’d venture a guess that the only thing that stops Lupica from being a veteran was his decision not to enlist. Ron Perri

A lesson in disrespect

Montrose, N.Y.: After teaching in the New York City public schools for more than 20 years, I thought I had seen it all, but this week left me feeling not only disheartened but also outraged. The New York City Department of Education decided not to honor our veterans this year, so schools did not recognize Veterans Day. All New York City government offices were closed on Friday, to honor ANTHONY DELMUNDO/DAILY NEWS our veterans, along with the courts and public libraries. I would like to know what official made the decision to ignore our veterans this year. I can guarantee you they don’t have a loved one who served in the military, or one that gave their life for this country. Maybe next year they can look a little more closely at the calendar. Even better, put the job in the hands of a teacher! They will make sure the job gets done the right way. Deb Plunkett

Shame on the schools

Brooklyn: In New York City, we dishonored veterans by keeping schools open on Veterans Day. Where was the mayor, chancellor, CSA and the UFT on this one? Out to lunch as always. Some lesson for students.

Ed Greenspan

What they really deserve

Brooklyn: To all veterans: I’d like to say that your service is appreciated, and to those who believe that taking a knee in protest against racism are disrespecting your service to our nation, are the actual offenders of the service that all veterans have provided. Veterans protect the rights of those who have none. That being said, on the topic of disrespect: How many veterans are homeless or in need of medical attention that our glorious government is neglecting, or putting a draft dodger with bone spurs in office? And now we see the audacity of his trip to Vietnam, where 58,000 American souls were lost.

Afrim Limba