Although Americans are generally very proud of their veterans, US governments have not managed to end veteran poverty or homelessness over the last few decades.
According to statistics, in 2012, about 1.5 million veterans lived in poverty, with the poverty rates for veterans between 18 and 34 years old being higher than all other groups.
At the same time, veteran homelessness has often been addressed, but never really solved and this has led to 11% of the homeless adult population being veterans.
Veterans often end up poor and homeless as a result of a shortage of affordable housing and a shortage of jobs they can do after deployment is over. These factors, combined with PTSD that is on many occasions underestimated and left untreated, as well as substance abuse, contribute to veterans living off minimum amounts of money and at times sleeping on the street or in their cars.
But, although the government has promised to end veteran poverty many times and failed them so far, we, as a society should do our best to help them whenever we get the chance.
Whether this translates to buying food for someone we know is struggling with day-to-day expenses, or giving them money to buy essential stuff, it is really crucial during these hard times to show these people we care.
This is probably what an officer with the Moore Police Department thought when he saw a veteran sleeping in his car a few days ago.
The officer, who was later identified as Sgt. Schultz, is also a veteran with the US Army himself, so when he saw this man, the sight apparently pulled on his heartstrings and he couldn’t simply pass by without doing something for him.
On July 7, the man was found sleeping in his car at Central Park in Moore, Oklahoma. Schultz decided to visit the local restaurant and buy food for him. A few minutes later, he was back with him, saying “Breakfast is served, my man!” and placing the food on the stranger’s car.
The man couldn’t believe his eyes. He grabs the food and, just when he thinks this is it, the officers hands him some money “to buy some food later on and for gas”, and the veteran doesn’t know what to say. He’s speechless!
So, the grateful veteran starts shaking hands with all the officers that happened to be around witnessing the scene. Last but not least, he shakes hands with Sgt. Schultz who has just brightened up his day.
The story that has just been made public has already attracted attention on social media, with people sharing it and commenting on how officers should not be judged by what some belonging to the force have done, but they should be seen and perceived as humans who try to do good in their daily lives just because this is how they feel.
“I have family that are part of the Blue, I know what law enforcement goes through, and I also know what they do behind the scenes,” a woman wrote on Facebook. “You will never see an officer brag about how he helped someone!”
Indeed, as in every profession, there are good and bad professionals and we shouldn’t think of everyone wearing a uniform as “the bad guy” before getting an insight into their character and personality.
Below, you can see the moment when the officer brought food for the veteran and what the man’s reaction was.
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