Help Agent Orange victims

I did not think much of John Scott Hannon’s political beliefs. However, I felt his pain when addressing the panel on hearings for the 9/11 victims of the chemicals they breathed in and for their valor got cancer.

There is another group who by directions of the then commander chief went to Vietnam. These men and women were also subject to chemicals called “Agent Orange.” This chemical caused a great deal of harm to our military men and women long after the war ended. Wives and children and other family members watched as their love ones slowly deteriorated. Some ending up in wheelchairs with the wives taking care of them knowing the dad of their children would not see their daughters and sons get married nor enjoy their grandchildren.

Our Congress has passed legislation to help the wives and widows whose husbands caught several diseases. However, as usual it is stuck in the Senate. Our congresswoman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, needs to ask Sen. McConnell to pass this needed legislation. Five minutes with the majority leader is not too much to ask for. Too many elected representatives say they are for our military. This should include helping the wives and widows’ husbands of this ever so horrible chemical Agent Orange.

Marilyn Calkins

Spokane