Don’t Let Today’s Applause Fade for Our Coronavirus Healthcare Warriors

One of the more endearing and symbolic examples of commitment is happening quietly at the Arlington National Cemetery. While everything in our lives seems to have stopped, soldiers continue to stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Even though the cemetery is closed because of the pandemic, there is a soldier guarding the Tomb at all times, rain or shine.

While endearing and compelling, it is not surprising. Our servicemen and women have always borne a disproportionate share of the nation’s burden in difficult times. As a country, we are fortunate to have a such a committed voluntary force there for us during war time while we continue our daily lives. But there is a cost.

As a young Marine, I was fortunate to return from the First Gulf War unscathed. However, many have not escaped the ravages of war, and many of our broken warriors have not been made whole.

Our healthcare workers have been on the front line of the battle of our lives. Their bravery and heroism are second to none in this fierce and scary fight against the coronavirus. And they have been asked to face this potent and invisible enemy without any shield, otherwise known as PPE, personal protective equipment. This takes me back to a time during the war when many of us learned that our gas masks were defective. Every one of us still convoyed toward Iraq, knowing full well the personal risk we faced should an Iraqi chemical mine explode near us. Our healthcare warriors have been doing the same thing.

Sadly, like soldiers on the battlefield, when this is all over, many healthcare workers will be no more. Likewise, many will be physically and psychologically broken on the other side of this pandemic. Everyone is praising them, including through a moving evening ritual in New York City where the residents open their windows and clap for them as they walk out of the hospital after their grueling shift. It reminds me of the parades servicemen get when they return from war. I will never forget the rows of Kuwaiti civilians cheering our returning convoy back from the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border, a proud moment and a prelude to many stateside parades.

But parades and emotional recognition after a war, while important for the soldiers and our national pride, are not enough. We’ve seen the deplorable conditions at one time at Walter Reed medical center, showing how recognition fades into indifference. We’ve seen how politicians pay lip service to our debt owed the military, only to turn their backs on our soldiers in time of greatest need.

Once we beat this pandemic, the bill will come due for the healthcare warriors, the broken ones. We need to take a moment now to remember to be as grateful and inspired later, when the danger, anxiety and fear have subsided, and healthcare warriors need our help. Let’s not nickel and dime them. We need to return the favor for their sacrifice. Remember our warriors.