Earlier this month, I stood in solemn silence at Arlington National Cemetery, watching the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s a moment that humbles you to your core—a tribute to the nameless heroes who gave their lives without recognition, their identities lost but their sacrifice eternal.

As I stood there, I couldn’t help but draw a painful parallel. Just beyond the gates of our nation’s capital, there are still nameless, faceless Veterans—living, breathing, and suffering. They wander the streets, burdened by untreated trauma, addiction, and mental illness. They are not memorialized with marble or ceremony. They are forgotten in alleys, on the streets, under overpasses, and in shelters, victims of a broken system that failed them.

The tragedy is not that help doesn’t exist. It does. The tragedy is that many Veterans are locked out of timely, quality care by bureaucratic barriers, delays, and a lack of real choice. The VA system, while well-intentioned, is overwhelmed and often unresponsive to urgent behavioral and mental health needs. Veterans deserve better. They deserve the right to seek care where it is most effective—whether within the VA or outside of it.

Private treatment providers like VetCare Recovery and VetCare IOP are leading the way in this space. These programs are built on evidence-based practices, trauma-informed care, and a deep understanding of military culture. More importantly, they are ready—right now—to offer Veterans prompt access to the care they need and have earned. But to fully serve these heroes, they must be empowered with the choice to access that care.

As I continue my work in the treatment world, I have dedicated much of my time and energy to advocacy—fighting for the rights of Veterans and for access to real, life-saving treatment. I’ve spoken with policymakers, worked alongside providers, and sat with countless Veterans whose stories haunt me and motivate me in equal measure.  Fortunately, I see hope with the new leadership at the helm of the Department of Veteran Affairs. 

My mission is simple: no Veteran should be left untreated, unheard, or unseen. And no person struggling with addiction or mental illness—Veteran or not—should be denied the chance to recover.

The men and women who served this country deserve more than ceremonial honor. They deserve action. They deserve choice. And they deserve care. My commitment to this fight is unyielding, and I won’t stop until every one of them has the chance to find their way home.