The phrase “support our troops” has been uttered countless times since the onslaught of the Iraq war and has made its way to bumper stickers, ribbons, lawn signs and wristbands. While its patriotic spirit can almost be considered redundant, the slogans’ over-popularity has been criticized by some as a red herring response to any criticism of the war. Yet, in a commendable twist of perspective, DeKalb County has finally decided to put its money where its mouth is.

Three months ago our county instituted Veterans Assistance Commissions in Illinois, and in a referendum passed during last Tuesday’s primary election, we increased the group’s budget from $50,000 to $500,000 a year. While this boost in funds will only average out to an extra $20 a year in residents’ property taxes, it provides tangible and efficient “support” for our troops of both past and present.

This support is needed now more than ever. DeKalb has 6,732 registered veterans and a growing number of them are returning from considerably traumatic duty in Iraq. The skeleton counseling program that our government has made mandatory for returning soldiers is a good idea, but most likely not intensive enough on its own to have a significant impact.

“I know a lot of people who would definitely benefit from [added] veteran services,” said my brother, Army Specialist Dylan Diesing, who recently returned to the United States from his year-long duty in Iraq.

“Many people could use further counseling,” Diesing continued. “Adjusting is a difficult thing, because [in Iraq] people are used to solving their problems by killing them. It can be hard to become comfortable around large groups of people in small areas … Anywhere you go without a weapon you feel out of place.”

Besides providing counseling, organizations like the VAC have supported veterans through health care payments, transportation, monthly subsidies and education benefits. In the past, local groups such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars assisted the VAC. Thanks to this referendum, the VAC will not have to rely as heavily on those donations or draw from city funds to help DeKalb’s veterans.

We’re extremely pleased with this [increase in funds],” said Chaplin of the 19th District and past Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Paul Kallembach. “Veterans services have been ignored for years. The government is just finally living up to the promises they made to veterans years ago.”

Kallembach lists health care as the No. 1 issue affecting veterans, and said counseling is included in that category as an extremely high priority.

According to veteransinstitute.org , decreases in veterans program funding have been so drastic the numbers barely keep up with the rise of inflation. This funding has been unable to come close to matching the 134 percent enrollment rate increase in veterans programs. As the Bush administration continues to push military enrollment, defeats requests for mandatory veteran program funding in the Senate and yet still urges us with vehemence to “support our troops,” one cannot help but commend the residents of DeKalb County for being the people who actually choose to do so.