As the presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton is starting to ramp up the closer we get to November, there has been much discussion about immigration, the war on terror, healthcare and so much more.

I'll be honest, I haven't watched the debates or listened to any speeches of either candidate. I don't think that any of the debates are relevant if they don't talk about how either is going to better America and me personally.

I hear things about what Clinton believes in and what Trump believes in. One thing that I've heard most from Donald Trump is how he is going to protect our war veterans, young and old.

War veterans from the Vietnam War, Korean War, Desert Storm, Iraqi War and Afghanistan War are coming more into focus as the science of PTSD, Agent Orange and so much more have been developed over multiple years. Coming from a family that had family members in multiple wars and have served for our country, the protection of our military and war veterans is very important to me. My late grandpa served in the United States Air Force while my aunt and uncle were also in the Air Force.

The amount of medical issues that have sprouted up throughout the years pertaining to veterans that have come out of combat or have been multiple years out of the service is outstanding. While there isn't just one main disease or illness that plagues these war heroes; there is a top 10 that the medical field has seen most often. Number one is AL Amyloidosis, this condition affects some of the bodies major hard working organs; this complex disease mostly comes up when a person is near a herbicide. Number two is Brucellosis which is contracted when there is profuse sweating and moisture, plaguing veterans from the Gulf War. Number three through ten are a multitude of physical and mental issues such as ALS, Hodgkins Disease, depression, traumatic brain injury, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers and ailments that damage joints and your back.

Some of these physical ailments are noticeable; like lung cancer from pollution, Agent Orange, smoking, herbicides and multiple other things. However, it is the hidden sicknesses that have hit our current soldiers and veterans the hardest.

The reason for the need to protect our soldiers; past, present and future is because they protected us during times of hardship, war and terrorism. Currently, the protection and care of our veterans and current service members is lacking—lacking in the medical field and beyond.

In Wisconsin, there have been many problems and discussion about the lack of care we have given our veterans. The Veterans home in Tomah, Wisconsin has been accused of giving veterans and patients too many drugs, not enough or the wrong drugs that have caused even more medical issues. Not only are the officials not taking care of them physically, they are not giving them the proper mental and physiological help. If an individual is suffering from PTSD, they don't give them the proper care in the therapy nor do they give them medication. They also have turned people away because they don't have the financials to support them or they have turned them away because of personal issues.

There have been multiple times in the past months that veterans, young and old have committed suicide right outside the veterans buildings or the hospitals because they couldn't be taken in.

There is a need to take care and protect of our veterans and current service members because they protected us. They have signed up, served and have given their lives for our freedom and the fact that the state and government have a lack of awareness for that is maddening and worrisome to me and multiple others. In order for our military to continue to grow, the future of our military also relies on the known outcome of the after. Soldiers need to know that they will be taken care of for the rest of their lives.

Many veterans that come home from the war have PTSD and with that comes obsessive disorders, broken families and homelessness. 11% of the homeless population does consist of homeless veterans; 45% of homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic. A majority of the homeless veteran population consist of younger and middle age but many homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Persian Gulf War, and more current, the Iraq and Afghanistan War.

The mental health and physical well being of these veterans is serious and needs to be taken care of immediately. These men and women protect and give their lives for the United States and its citizens.

Thank you veterans. Past, present and future. Recently I read a quote "Forget Me Not" in terms of our fallen, whether they are physical fallen or mentally fallen soldiers in our military.

So this election season, as we are getting down to the most intense times, it is important to think about the men and women who have fought for us throughout many wars, current wars and future wars.

We will not forget you.