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VA Admission (poem)

By Jan Barry

Just before Veterans Day,
The VA sent a letter
Declaring that I'm 100 percent
Disabled from disabilities
That struck late in life
Due to the war in Vietnam—
This is beyond amazing—
Not that long ago
The VA told Vietnam vets
It was all in our heads,
That our mothers caused our problems,
That it was none of their business—
I could tick off the insults
Decade by decade—
And now, just like that,
I'm accepted into the inner
Sanctum of war heroes—
No Purple Heart,
But an Agent Orange
Admission ticket to VA care