A "Gift" From Congress This Veteran’s Day

Written By Wesley McCauley

While the Washington Post has been busy publishing hit piece after hit piece on Veterans, my friends and I have been busy continuing to fight for you fine folk. On the flip side of things, the other W.P.—Washington Politicians, seem to have a "gift" ready for everyone to celebrate Veteran’s day—a budget! How nice of them. Imagine this. You’re waiting on the VA to get your claim right so you can get the bank off your back. The VA denied your VR&E appeal, saying you are too disabled to go back to work (no duh). So, you just don’t have any money coming in. You call up the bank and say sorry, you will just have to wait. The wife and I just can’t agree on a budget right now! How long do you think the bank is waiting? I doubt they are waiting some forty-one plus days. The good news? After Turkey Day is over, it looks like we are going to get to do this whole thing over again on January 30, 2026. To me, fall is the best. College football, hockey, bonfires, getting together with family. Of course, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving. The two days go like peas and carrots.

Veterans Day and the Season of Gratitude

November in general is a reflective time. The air turns crisp, the days shorten, and our thoughts turn inward. For many, November is synonymous with gratitude. It’s the month of Thanksgiving, a day dedicated to pausing and giving thanks for the blessings in our lives—our families, our homes, and our Nation. I know I sure have been blessed this year. We have been able to serve so many Veterans this year and help fulfil the promise of a square deal between the Nation and our Veterans. Denise and Jeff are just one example among many—ones I am very proud of.

But for me, and for many of you, this month of gratitude holds an even deeper, more personal meaning. It begins on November 11—with Veteran’s Day. It is a powerful and fitting anchor for a season of thankfulness, reminding us that many of the freedoms we are most grateful for were not given, but earned. They were protected by the very men and women I have the profound privilege to represent every single day. Which is why this really is the best "job" on Earth. I use that term loosely. Sure, I have been fortunate enough to make representing Veterans my full time career—but really, it never seems like work. I still get that same thrill today of calling a Veteran and saying “we won, we beat them” as I did the day I first started.

A Legacy of Service

Veteran’s Day is not just another holiday. It’s a date cemented in history. It falls on November 11 to commemorate the armistice that ended World War I—"the war to end all wars"—on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Derived from the Latin 'arma' ("arms") and 'stitium' ("a stopping"), the word literally describes a "stopping of arms" or a cessation of conflict. The spirit of the stitium endures today. Veteran’s Day now calls for a different kind of "stopping": it asks us as a nation to pause our daily routines, to deliberately stand still, and to take a moment to reflect on and give thanks to all the veterans whose service secured the peace that armistice represents.

What began as a day to honor the heroes of that specific conflict has evolved, rightly so, to honor all American Veterans, from all eras, living or passed. It is a day to recognize the patriotism, the love of country, and the profound willingness to serve and sacrifice that defines a veteran. You just won’t find a better Country on Earth worth defending.

As an advocate, I see the marks of this service every day. I see it in the service-connected disabilities my clients carry, in the old photos they share from their time in uniform, and in the pride that remains, even when they are fighting their toughest battles here at home. This day is for them.

Things That Matter

For many, showing gratitude on Veteran’s Day means a parade, or a "thank you for your service," or a Facebook post. These are important and valued gestures, sure. But as we sit down for our Thanksgiving turkey, dressing, and mashed potatoes later this month, surrounded by comfort and safety, I believe our gratitude must also always be reflective and forward thinking. We must remember who made this possible, and those that will always be needed to defend out Nation’s freedoms.

This November, as we reflect on all we are thankful for, let us place the service of our Veterans at the very top of that list. Let us be thankful not just in word, but in deed. To all the Veterans I have the honor of serving and to all those I have yet to meet: Thank you. It is the privilege of my life to fight for you, to continue to fight.

Godspeed.

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About the Author
Wesley McCauley

While working as the Operations Lieutenant for his local fire department during college, Wesley found his love for veteran’s law. Wesley was born and raised in rural south Georgia, where he continues to enjoy living. While attending Valdosta State University, a community also home to Moody Air Force Base, Wesley saw the lack of quality representation available to Veterans and their families—even in a military community. This led him to become a VA accredited representative, seeking to serve Veterans and their families. Following his time in the Fire Department, he founded United Veteran’s Disability in September of 2021.

Wesley has represented some of our nation’s finest, including a World War II POW, combat Veterans, Camp Lejeune Veterans, submariners, Vietnam widows, Coastguardsmen, Infantrymen, FBI agents, and even VA employees. Wesley says each have a common thread “love of country.” He has successfully recovered millions in benefits for veterans and their families. His largest single recovery totals over $525,000 in backpay. Wesley has represented Veterans and their families at the Regional Office level, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. He has handled both medically and legally complex claims. Wesley believes in the importance of maximizing benefits for veterans, and his clients are regularly awarded SMC to help compensate veterans above the 100% rate.

While Wesley represents a wide range of Veterans and survivors, a large part of his practice includes veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. “What we saw with Vietnam veterans and Agent Orange is playing itself over again, but with burn pit Veterans. As we continue to learn more about the diseases associated with burn pit exposure, it is important to hold the VA accountable and push for many more diseases to be presumptive, just as the Vietnam Veterans had to fight decades for.”

Wesley is a sustaining member of the National Organization for Veterans’ Advocates, a member of the CAVC Bar Association, Military-Veterans Advocacy, and is a lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association.

Outside of his practice, Wesley enjoys traveling with his wife, especially visiting our U.S. National Parks. Together, they plan to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks. They also enjoy exercising together, as well as nature photography.

https://unitedforvets.us
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