This May, America celebrates National Military Appreciation Month, a time to show gratitude and recognize the sacrifices made by the 15.8 million veterans and 1.3 million active-duty military personnel still serving the country.
Hawaiʻi is home to more than 90,000 veterans, and more than 65,000 of them live in Honolulu. With over 250,000 service members and their families stationed in Hawaiʻi, the total defense economy contribution of this state exceeds $4.6 billion annually.
There is, however, much more that these people contribute to the nation, risking their lives and health long after their military duty ended.
Studies show that, on average, veterans have a far reduced life expectancy when compared to the general population, with significantly increased rates of chronic serious conditions, as well as cancers. Many of these diseases can be traced back to toxic exposure, for which repercussions can take decades to manifest…