Everyday heroes are rarely acknowledged, and often, when they are singled out for credit, the response is “I was just doing my duty.”

Historically, we have gone to war when injustice becomes the behavior of a nation, and an army of united effort is mobilized to restore justice.

Heroes have come to national attention in every war as we honor those who’ve served in military action, facing and wielding weapons of death and showing a love for the everyday guy next to them, though it may mean the sacrifice of their own lives. They serve as a model for how we would like to live every day: standing up for justice; doing our duty; and caring for our neighbor.

To truly honor military veterans, we should also consider how we take care of them in the aftermath of war.

Following World War II’s clash of international allies, the GI Bill enabled the everyday heroes, the GI Joes of that war, to build their own futures with education and employment.

In our guilt and opposition to the conduct of the Vietnam War, many of us turned a blind eye to returning vets. To this day we pay a sorrowful price for the burdens of homelessness and mental illness that plague many of that war’s soldiers.

Now over 4,000 U.S. military have died in Iraq; tens of thousands have been disabled by participating in that conflict. In our homes, everyday citizens deal with loss of limb, abilities and normalcy among vets.

It is estimated that San Juan County has approximately 2,500 veterans. The County Council has ruled into law that services to veterans shall be provided by the Veterans’ Advisory Board of nine members, established one year ago.

Among other services, it helps distribute funds to needy veterans, their dependents, widows, widowers, and/or orphans who live in the San Juans through the Veterans Assistance Fund (VAF). The fund provides emergency assistance to eligible individuals when assistance from other agencies is considered inappropriate or time requirements are constrained.

The next meeting of the Veterans Advisory Board will be Nov. 14. Their county website at co.san-juan.wa.us/committees/veterans gives links to the Federal Veterans Administration, state Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Aging and Disability services and Puget Sound Health Care System.

County Council member Alan Lichter serves as liaison between the Veterans Board and the Council. With his departure from the Council next year, we hope that another council member will continue to serve the Veterans in our county who have served in our name.

Honoring our vets in this way is just as important as once-a-year national holiday commemorations.