ROANOKE RAPIDS — Dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of veterans made their way to the Becker Village Mall on Wednesday. They were gathering to honor Veterans Day and to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Dallas Jones Veterans Center and Museum. 

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While many had completed their service decades ago, they still had thoughts about today’s servicemen and women, and some expressed concern over treatment veterans receive in today’s America.

James Walters, of Lake Gaston, served in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theatre in World War II. He believes today’s soldiers are being treated fairly and had no negative comments about veterans affairs, stating plainly he felt veterans today are well-served.

Lee Cunningham, a Vietnam veteran who served under Congressional Medal of Honor winner Frank Reasoner, expressed admiration for today’s soldiers. “I think they’re very disciplined in not complaining,” Cunningham stated. “The bomb attacks on vehicles” represented a particularly trying thing for today’s military to deal with, he thought. He believes President Obama is not acting with the military’s best interests at heart. “That man’s a civilian,” Cunningham said, “And he’s telling the most brilliant military minds in the world he knows more.”

As for veterans affairs, Cunningham feels services provided are doing well considering the workload. “I’ve been to the VA (Veterans Administration) Center at Duke — there seemed to be five doctors for every patient; I was very impressed. From outside looking in I would say (veterans are well served,) but I’m not one of these guys with a disability making claims with the VA.”

Noah Joyner, 84, of Weldon, served in World War II and Korea and was still in the service during Vietnam. He believes a great deal of stress has been placed on today’s military. “In terms of (stress on) our resources it’s difficult and I think it is stressful. But we have to follow this plan’s route until we can figure a way out of this thing,” Joyner said.

Joyner, a veteran for 47 years, has just had his first contact with the VA. “I recently sought some benefits for the first time in my life. I was appalled at the number of patients and the magnitude of services they had to perform. It’s like all other government subsidized programs — sometimes you have it and other times you don’t. I think they’re doing an excellent job in most cases.” Weldon’s Ray Harlow, who served in the Air Force during Vietnam, believes today’s military presents many issues to the emotional health of the soldiers. “I would say I’m concerned with mental health issues. The funding for our soldiers when it comes to brain disorders is inadequate. Mental health services for our military are woefully inadequate.”

Harlow feels getting benefits has been too difficult for many veterans. “I think too many of them have to misrepresent themselves to get benefits. About the only way you can get into that hospital (the VA facility in Durham) is in an emergency situation. But I’m not going to lie about my money.”

Steven Smith, who did a six-year stint in the Navy, has a simple wish for today’s military. “My son’s in Iraq,” Smith said, “I’d like to see him come home.”

Wednesday, yesterday’s veterans celebrated Veterans Day near the Dallas Jones Veterans Center and Museum.  As they, quite appropriately, honored each other, it was clear that for many, tomorrow’s veterans were in their thoughts.