A dose of reality.
In 1932, thousands of WW1 veterans converged on the capital to demand cash redemption of their WWI service certificates; a bonus that wasn't supposed to be paid until 1945.
Many of the war veterans had been out of work since the beginning of the Great Depression. The World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924 stated that each certificate, issued to a qualified veteran soldier, bore a face value equal to the soldier's promised payment compound interest. The principal demand of the Bonus Army was the immediate cash payment of their certificates.
President Hoover responded by sending police to drive off the veterans, then the Army with 6 tanks. Riots broke out and 2 veterans were shot and killed. The 'Bonus Army' marchers with their wives and children were driven out, and their shelters and belongings burned. The veterans were branded as communists and criminals by society and government officials.
It wasn't until Roosvelt became president that the veteran bonuses were paid in full under a revised compensation act, and gave them all jobs under a new executive order which previously had prevented many of them from applying.
Sometimes, it's all about leadership, approach and priorities. #ww1 #neverforget #stayzero #zerofoxtrot #sacrifice