Formerly known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day was established in 1938 as a holiday to celebrate the end of World War I . Fast-forward to today, and most seem to miss the magnitude of this holiday completely.

As a veteran , I enjoy the solitude of the day and see it as a chance to reflect on those with whom I served. I receive texts and phone calls from people I rarely hear from. My children actually recognize my service. And to pay it forward, I go to my local tavern and buy a round of drinks for any veteran I can find.

But Veterans Day also saddens me. While I always pay homage to those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, that is for Memorial Day. What brings me the most despair is the way this country discards our service members and fails to care for those who returned home safely but were never the same.

My son is 22 years old. The United States has been in a constant state of war his entire life. “Since 2001, between 1.9 and 3 million service members have served in post-9/11 war operations in Afghanistan and Iraq,” according to the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. This doesn’t include military members who didn’t serve in those two theaters of war.

What is happening to our brave soldiers? Veterans kill themselves at nearly twice the rate of the civilian population. “Records from 48 states show the annual suicide rate among veterans is about 30 for every 100,000 of the population, compared with a civilian rate of about 14 per 100,000,” according to MinnPost.

Each and every day, 24 veterans commit suicide . That equates to 8,760 veterans every year. That is nearly one infantry division committing suicide every year.

This statistic is alarming and unacceptable. Sadly, it is rarely discussed.

But veteran suicide is not the only curse haunting veterans.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a major factor that drives homelessness and substance abuse problems for veterans, with more than 20% of veterans suffering from an addiction to or a dependence on drugs or alcohol — a personal demon with which I have struggled but that I overcame.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans reports that 11% of the adult homeless population are veterans.

Veterans are homeless, addicted, and killing themselves at a rate higher than the civilian population. What are we doing about this?

First and foremost, we do a terrible job as a nation integrating our veterans back into society once they leave the military.

Personally, I had a physical, signed a document that I wouldn’t sue the government, received a handshake, and was sent on my way. I was blessed: I was educated, had a wonderful wife to help me, and had a job to start.

Most don’t. Many veterans leave the military alone. According to U.S. Census Bureau data , those who have served in the military have the highest divorce rate of any career field. Most veterans leave the military with no plan, no savings, and no prospects.

Remember, the LGBT community gets an entire month of celebration: television ads, parades, celebrations at sporting events, and parties at the White House. Veterans get a single day; let us remember that those rights would likely not even exist without their dedicated service.

Former President Donald Trump signed a Veterans Choice Law to make it easier for veterans to find healthcare outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs. He also made it easier to fire government employees who don’t do their jobs, something rampant in the VA.

It's a nice start, but more needs to be done. Young generations take for granted the freedoms that we have in this country, and with the rapid changes I see on a daily basis, I often fear that these freedoms will disappear.

As we sit on the verge of World War III — with war in Ukraine, Israel, and a pending war in Taiwan — we are going to see more and more young military members put in harm's way.

Let’s make sure they are cared for, respected, and honored.

And on this Veterans Day, I implore you not only to honor our veterans, both living and deceased, but also to honor the things that they fought for. Because once they are gone, life will never be the same.

Jim Nelles is a supply chain consultant based in Chicago. He has served as a chief procurement officer, chief supply chain officer, and chief operations officer for multiple companies.