Cathy Engelbert Quotes

The responsibility for keeping our commitments to veterans falls on the federal government.

Our country has made a promise to our veterans: if you serve your country, then 'we've got your six.' We will have your back for life. I will always fight for the more than 250,000 veterans here in Arkansas.

The thing is, a lot of our vets come home and they feel displaced, and they don't feel like their voice matters, so for me to be a spokesman and have that honor to educate America about who we are and what we are, it's like I'm doing my job.

Some 70% to 80% of all who join the military will return to the civilian workforce. They'll return to communities, and one of the things I've worried about is the increasing disconnect between the American people and our men and women in uniform. We come from fewer and fewer places. We're less than 1% of the population.

I am super proud of being an American, but we fail our veterans every day.

The military community in particular, I think, could always be more supported, especially people who are being processed out of the military and trying to readjust to being civilians.

I do engage veterans. I meet with the veterans' service organizations monthly. It's a direct, no-holds-barred discussion. I travel to their conventions, where I speak to the veterans membership. I do travel. I've been to all 50 states. When I do, I engage veterans locally. So I get direct feedback from those veterans.

I want people to take the initiative to find veterans that need help, veterans that are suffering and in need of assistance reintegrating from combat back into society, into normal family lives and jobs. We need to take a real 'boots on the ground' approach to helping veterans in need.

As a former veteran, I understand the needs of veterans, and have been clear - we will work together, stand together with the Administration, but we will also question their policies when they shortchange veterans and military retirees.

The University of Southern California has a wonderful social work department, and I was thrilled to find out that they have a whole veterans' initiative program there. They approached me, and I set up a scholarship that would go to a military-oriented person to learn techniques and skills to better help veterans.

America's trying to do the best for its veterans.

America’s veterans deserve a strong VA, not an outsourcing voucher.

Creating on-campus communities for student veterans will help ease the transition from military to student life by providing networking opportunities, assistance with federal benefits, and career services.

The military is a discrete entity. Then they come back, and they're such a small percentage of the population, and they can't really - it's hard for them to talk to civilians.

Changing the conversation about how Americans perceive veterans is really important. These are hardworking, dedicated, innovative people who deserve quality employment when they return home from their military service.

The simple truth is that every veteran has his or her own unique story, and there's no single narrative about the issue of veterans finding civilian employment. And no single solution.

I'm trying to raise awareness for veterans.

This is not a political issue. I know Florida's leadership has talked about a real commitment to helping our veterans. Now it's time for them to show it.

Veteran causes are an extremely important issue, especially the transition from military to civilian life.

Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time in the military.

Veteran' is an exercise in editing because there is a lot of moments I took out and some that almost didn't make it.

There's been nobody who stays in more communication and listens to veterans more than I do.

When active duty ends, we have an obligation to uphold our own pledge: a pledge to ensure that every veteran receives the care and benefits they deserve.

My brother-in-law, Chuck, whom I have known since we were teenagers, is a disabled veteran who was wounded while fighting with the marines in Vietnam. I've been around to observe how the war affected his life and the problems that veterans have, and I knew for a long time that I wanted to write a song about Vietnam.

Veterans are determined to continue serving here at home, and given a level playing field, they will compete with anyone.