POLL: Should all Veterans get Veterans Day off with pay?

Saturday night, I performed at the Raritan Valley Country Club with magician/ventriloquist Gemini, and comedian Tom Anzalone for the Hillsborough Chapter of Unico. Unico is an Italian organization that provides money for children, scholarships and many other local events in New Jersey.

This event was for a wounded Purple Heart recipient who is now disabled because of his service to our country. He is about to lose his home, where his family wife and two kids reside with him. He is also unable to pay other bills.

On Sunday night, I was with Big Joe Henry, Jeff Norris, Rene DeLorenzo, and John Pizzi at the Union Performing Arts Center. They raised $100,000 for K9’S for Warriors, which provides service to warriors suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome.

On Monday night when I was discussing this with my neighbor Liz, she told me about her  husband Greg, who is a Vietnam Vet. Greg takes a personal day every Veterans Day, so that he can get the day off with pay. I thought this was a wonderful idea, and it would be great for all businesses to adopt such a plan. It’s the least we can do for these heroes who served our country and protected our freedom.

We talked about this idea on New Jersey 101.5, and the callers were very much in favor. They spoke about all the things that Veterans do for other Veterans on that day, and how they are forced to take off without pay, or use a personal day. One employer brought up the fact that non-vets would sue, and claim this wouldn't be fair to them.

Perhaps some lawmaker would propose legislation on this. What do you think?