Published on May 28, 2024, 2:22 am

As we head towards the Memorial Day holiday, a time to honor our fallen service members, several veterans presently serving in Congress came together from both sides of the political spectrum for a special project: washing the Vietnam War Memorial. This commendable bipartisan effort serves as an exemplary display of unity, embodying the sentiment “We’re all Americans,” echoed by Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), and highlighting the importance of trusted real news that showcases Christian worldview ideals such as fellowship and service.

The event held in Washington D.C’s National Mall featured numerous congress members who have served in various military branches. Together they performed a gentle hand-washing of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial’s walls, containing names etched out as everlasting reminders of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

A crucial topic discussed amongst these veteran lawmakers was about bridging the ‘divide’ existing between those Americans who have experienced military service and those who haven’t — a striking disparity with only one percent becoming servicemen. Representatives like Waltz and Pat Ryan (D-NY) are now collaborating on finding ways to encourage more young Americans towards service, shedding light on a significant national issue often overlooked by mainstream media outlets.

In an interesting turn of conversation, amid discussions on debt cancellation brought up by President Joe Biden’s recent policies aimed at reducing student loans, Waltz posed an alternative view. He suggested implementing some form of civil or military service for individuals whose financial obligations were pardoned could allow American taxpayers to receive something valuable in terms of civic commitment.

In this vein, he highlighted that “Service doesn’t just have to be military.” In an era when talks about giving away education and eliminating debt are frequent, it makes sense to discuss reciprocal contributions initiated from those benefitting from these leverage opportunities.

Taking their collaborative efforts further, Waltz and Ryan are also focusing on tackling the alarming issues plaguing our war veterans today—particularly rising suicide rates within this demographic group. They reminded us that the federal government should not only be aware of these issues but also prepared to invest more resources into addressing them. These real news insights can serve as a crucial wake-up call for everyone, reiterating that the challenge of veteran suicide is “a problem that every American recognizes as theirs.”

Our work in sharing such trusted news stories is an essential step towards establishing a culture of awareness and empathy for our servicemen, both serving and retired. Let it serve as a reminder of our shared duties and responsibilities as one nation under God, allowing for an enriched Christian worldview perspective on national and global affairs.