By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Memorial Day is a day of honor. We honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to America. We honor the sacrifices made by their families. Honoring those brave soldiers and their loved ones does not need to end, however, once the sun sets on Memorial Day. We can honor them each and every day by supporting the veterans still among us and our Gold and Silver Star families.

During Sunday’s Memorial Day ceremonies, Somerville paid tribute to our fallen heroes with the placing of wreaths on monuments along Central Hill Park and, at the conclusion of the parade, a ceremony of remembrance at Veterans Memorial Ceremony in Teele Square. The city also paid tribute to veterans still among us during the parade, with our two Grand Marshals — James F. Legee, Jr., who fought at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, and John M. O’Leary, who served as part of the Allied Occupation Force in post-World War II Japan.

After the ceremonies, parades and cookouts, whether we care to admit it or not, most of us get back to the daily grind until the next patriotic holiday, when we again publicly profess our thanks to our nation’s veterans. We cannot allow veterans to slip out of sight, out of mind. We must honor their sacrifice every day. When we talk about veterans making the ultimate sacrifice by fighting to uphold our rights and our freedom, we most likely do not consider what that sacrifice means once they have returned home.

Veterans live with pain both physical and psychological, a burden they bear for every free citizen of this nation and a price they paid so they could serve. This burden leaves veterans disproportionately vulnerable to not only health problems, but unemployment and homelessness in the midst of a fragile economy.

Fortunately, a vast network of resources is available to support veterans and their families. Somerville, Massachusetts and the nation have all stepped up in recent years, providing benefits never before available. In March, Governor Deval Patrick signed an executive order that gives greater access to service-disabled veterans who own small businesses seeking contracts for public projects, which follows the signing of the VALOR Act last year. These initiatives help create jobs and reduce veteran unemployment.

The Commonwealth also released a plan earlier this year that aspires to statistically end veteran homelessness in Massachusetts, with an initial goal of reducing the number of homeless veterans by 1,000 by the end of 2015. Here in Somerville, we’ve been successful in keeping veterans from becoming homeless. The city has opened its doors to veterans from other communities, too. Volunteers for America broke ground in December on the Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center on Broadway, which will provide 22 transitional and seven permanent housing units for homeless veterans. I am proud that Somerville can serve as a home to those veterans.

While there are still wars being fought and servicemen and women putting their lives in jeopardy, there lies danger for veterans even in times outside of war. The latest U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data estimates about 22 veterans committed suicide each day in 2010. The danger is increasing. Between 2007 and 2010, the number of veteran deaths from suicide in the U.S. increased by nearly 11 percent and the rate of suicide increased by over 8 percent. Veteran suicides hit a record high in 2012, with more deaths by suicide than in active combat, and this danger is greatest for older veterans.

Veterans who endure chronic migraines or back pain are more likely to attempt suicide, regardless of whether they suffer from a psychiatric condition like depression, according to a recently released study that involved more than 4.8 million servicemen and women receiving care from the U.S. Veterans Health Administration.  Another study found that suicide risk is higher among military personnel with multiple traumatic brain injuries, which are common among military personnel, even after accounting for the severity of any symptoms resulting from the injuries.

Veterans Affairs has taken steps to address this growing problem, increasing staff for the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and press 1) by 50 percent. The VA has also initiated a “Stand By Them” public awareness campaign to educate families and friends on seeking help for veterans in crisis.

Resources can be expanded, press releases issued and awareness campaigns set into motion, but it is incumbent upon each and every one of us to reach out to veterans who may need assistance. If you know a Somerville veteran who needs assistance, you can direct them to the city’s Veteran Service Department or have them call 311 for more information. Whether it is help with state or federal benefits, housing, employment or depression, the resources are available to help veterans in need right now.

So as we get back to work this week after celebrating with family and friends, let us remember to pause in the coming weeks and months to continue thank and honor our nation’s veterans.