Today, Veterans Day, we pay tribute to those who defend our country and give so much to preserve our way of life.

It is an appropriate time to consider not only the contributions made by these courageous men and women but also the serious problems they too often face after completing their service. The viewpoint that follows and today’s Maine Compass deal with two such issues: disabilities incurred during military service and veterans’ unemployment.

As we honor our veterans on this important day, we urge readers to take this opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of those who have served us so well.