We stepped up and fought for this country when asked with pride and dignity. We came back from the service with our heads held high and proud.

Unfortunately, we face another fight, and this one affects all veterans, retirees and disabled veterans. In short, the gas war is being lost in terms of mileage to our appointments at Caribou and Togus VA Hospital. With skyrocketing gas prices, the reimbursement checks all veterans are allotted, totaling 11 cents a mile received from Togus for travel pay, only cover a fraction of the cost.

That, in turn, forces us to use our retirement, disability and Social Security checks to pay for travel to our appointments. This is taken from our checks that is being used for our basic needs per month, creating more of a hardship on the veterans’ families. Unless we veterans don’t speak out, we will be overlooked in the growing debate about travel pay, and high gas prices and the impact they are having on veterans’ lives and families.

I understand there are other priorities that exist in this country, but look at this issue. I merely want to contribute my perspective as a Maine disabled veteran and to bring to light one of the impacts our energy situation has caused. I believe we can be rewarded a reasonable adjustment on our travel pay, since it has not been done for many years. State travel pay has been adjusted, federal pay has been adjusted, so why have the veterans’ pay not been adjusted?

I urge other veterans to join me in contacting our elected representatives and express their views on this matter.

Almon Hemore

Houlton