MUSTERING OUT MIGHT BE A MISNOMER.

This year's Veterans Day ceremonies in what passes for downtown DeKalb was much like its predecessors, if perhaps shortened out of respect for the chilly (it used to be seasonably normal) weather and reflecting the advancing age of many of the regular presenters.

My post title reflects the sober message in Greg Byrnes's "The Ragged Old Flag and Veterans."

Current Veterans Affairs estimates are that there are about 35,000 homeless veterans on America's streets on any given night. Eight percent of total homelessness. It is one of the great unsolved problems of our time. It is a scandal that, like most intractable problems, will probably only end when each of these troubled souls goes to his reward. There is no easy solution, but it is worth our attention. Resources that can help are listed at the end of this story.

Suicide rates among veterans have skyrocketed to 7,000 a year. About one every hour.

His post continues, "If someone you know is in imminent danger," with extensive advice on how to proceed.  First, "Call 988 (or 988‑555‑0100 for the Veterans Crisis Line) right away."

Might the American High and the splurge I refer to as the Victory Dividend have been an attempt to make the shared bad memories of all those returning G.I. "Greatest Generation" veterans less painful?