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    Re: “Military Families to Get Free National Parks Pass.” [Associated Press News Brief, May 16] I approach this subject with some trepidation as to how these words will be received, especially within the local military community. Hopefully, the reader will understand that in no way should my comments be taken as a slight on the active-duty military and their dependents now honorably serving America in all areas of the world.

    However, I must make it clear that the article concerning the free national parks pass being issued by the Interior Department to provide a means of thanking current service members and their families for the sacrifices they make comes up totally inadequate for those who have already made those same sacrifices.

    If the Interior Department is really sincere about implementing an effort to thank the military community for sacrifices, both being made and those made, they must take this process further by including those from all prior conflicts such as World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Anything less is a visible slap in the face to those of the past, and especially the forgotten Korean and Vietnam veteran. Too many Vietnam vets had more than their share of being slapped in the face and spat upon when all they did was do their duty while over 56,000 of that same generation made the supreme sacrifice.

    Do I still harbor some resentment about how Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned home to cries of “baby killers”? I make no apologies for how I felt then and still feel today. And the one thing that stirs my soul is when actions, such as taken by the Interior Department (no matter how well-intended), specifically exclude (whether intentionally, by oversight or just plain ignorance) any group that has done and sacrificed as much as any generation for the security and protection of this great country.

    I have no reservations about providing as much support and appreciation as possible for our troops today. But I will always be first in line to insist and plead for that same recognition and appreciation for those who have gone before.

    Some might say that I should just accept things as they are; forget about the past and move on. Some say it is more important to concentrate only on the present or the future. I might agree with that if everyone felt that way, but there are many in this country who still look back over the past 200+ years and insist that what happened, even beginning with this country’s foundation, must never be forgotten, and use the past to justify their demands of today. It would be totally unjust to limit to a few select groups the use of the past to their advantage at the exclusion of all others. I believe it is called “equality.”

    Joe Schell

    Dover

What do I care?

    It never ceases to amaze me that I can never get that perfect balance between the VA hospital and my primary-care doctor. I mean, either I love one and dislike the other, or the other way around.

    My doctor at the Dover clinic is the greatest, helped me lose 32 pounds. He gave me some meds to help my breathing. It had steroids in it. I can’t take steroids. [It was an] honest mistake, so, I took four packages straight from the drug company – these weren’t generic; these things must have cost at least a couple [of] hundred [dollars] apiece, and I’m sure someone else can use them. Wanting to do the right thing, I took them back to the pharmacy at the VA hospital near Elsmere. Pharmacy guy barks, “Can’t take them back here; go to room 3.” Sign says, “Knock, then enter, one person at a time.” I had a mini-flashback. A woman with very colorful hair said, “We don’t take meds back once they have been dispensed.” I said, “They aren’t open, seals aren’t broken.” “No difference; we can, however, show you how to discard them,” and gave me a pamphlet on how to throw away drugs you don’t want. Woman in the back said, “You’re 100 percent, so, you didn’t pay for them, so.” So?

    And that is what I hate and have been tolerating since 1970. I am not an Agent Orange guy, although I have a touch, and I’m not just a PTSD guy, although I have a touch. What I am, and they always forget, is a VETERAN who was wounded three times in combat, but for some reason, I have become either the crazy Vietnam vet, the PTSD vet, or, and the one I hate, “You are 100 percent, you don’t have to pay, so, WHAT DO YOU CARE?” VET. What do I care? My question is and always was, “Why don’t you care? Why don’t you question why perfectly good prescription drugs that costs hundreds of bucks should be just thrown away because of a mistake?” instead of looking at me like I’m a nut.

    Last stop was Patient Advocate. Boy, did that office change: they all learn from the same script. No help, bad look, no help. So, I went by the trash can in the foyer and put over $400 worth of unused, packaged, sealed drugs in the trash can.

    Oh, well, what do I care? I’m the crazy Vietnam Vet who tried to do the RIGHT thing.

    Joseph M. Slavish

    Smyrna