No veteran who has served this country admirably should have to go one day of their life without food, housing or other essential needs.

Veterans are some of the best people on Earth. They answered the call when their country needed them, and for that reason alone we owe it to every veteran to ensure they are taken care of once they are no longer in the military. Unfortunately, our country has fallen short in doing that in many cases, whether it pertains to vets not receiving adequate care at the Veterans Administration and its hospitals or not giving them the full benefits they rightfully deserve.

That needs to change, and change quickly. As we approach another Veterans Day, we should pledge to do all we can to make sure our veterans are taken care of. One such group that has committed to that task for three years is the Kentucky-based Operation Stand Down.

The group’s Backpacks for Veterans in Need project started in October and will continue through Dec. 9. The backpacks will be filled with food and essentials such as shoes, socks, underwear, toothpaste and various hygiene items. The group has received 125 donated backpacks and now needs to collect items to fill them.

This is a wonderful cause that we believe could go a long way toward helping area veterans in need. It’s good to see local businesses and organizations getting involved. Greenwood Ford is a permanent drop-off location. Other businesses and organizations helping collect items are Family Works Therapy, Cone Funeral Home and the Flora Templeton Stuart law firm.

Local restaurants such as Roosters, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cambridge Market and Blaze Pizza have also helped through donating a portion of sales to the backpack effort. Organizations such as the American Legion Post 23, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1298 and the Veterans Administration Clinic are also helping with the effort.

Not only does Operation Stand Down help veterans get the essentials they need, the group also helps veterans become more financially independent.

Operation Stand Down tries to follow President Abraham Lincoln’s creed – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan” – which is very admirable. We wholeheartedly support this group’s mission and urge people in the community to donate items to this group to help our veterans.

Daily News of Bowling Green