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In 1998, I called 1-800-USA-ARMY. At the age of 39, I signed up for the U.S. Army Reserve, and later deployed to Iraq as a combat surgeon.

I signed up for similar reasons that many service members did – a love for America and a commitment to serve my fellow citizen. Many of us were called to service after seeing America and her interests attacked time and again. From Beirut to the first World Trade Center bombing, I knew that America would only remain free because brave men and women volunteer to stand as watchmen on the walls of liberty.

Many of our younger generation were similarly called after September 11th, 2001.

After tours of duty, whether it is our greatest generation storming the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima, or the men and women returning home after multiple tours in the Middle East, these veterans come back with a greater sense of what peace looks like. They understand more than anyone the blessings of liberty, and the price for freedom. They are part of the 1% of Americans that have served in uniform.

You cannot separate the experience of service from the veteran. They know that the idea of America is worth fighting for, from the early days of the Revolutionary War to around the world until freedom can stand on its own two feet.

I continue to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve, reporting to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to work with their surgery team. There, I see our troops, wounded by war, fighting every day to drive on. Some carry the physical wounds of war, while others carry the mental weight of combat.

Our veterans committed to service, and to their nation. They felt that they should give of themselves, for something greater than themselves.

There are no greater lovers of peace than those who served in war. Their service is a summons that they do not seek, yet it is a call and a responsibility that they do not shirk.

Unfortunately, in recent years, it has become obvious that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has shirked their obligations. An attitude of job preservation over protecting veterans is too prevalent.

It’s not every hospital or even most VA employees, but enough that many of our veterans rightly question their government’s commitment.

Every VA is different, and each facility faces different problems, but we can enact universal measures of accountability and reform that ensure the government serves the veteran, not the bureaucrat.

A first step is a simple bill the House of Representatives passed, despite President Obama’s veto threat. The VA Accountability Act would introduce consequences for employees who fail to do their job. The VA Secretary needs to have greater flexibility in running the department, where it currently takes over a year to dismiss an employee for even scandalous acts, like secret wait lists.

Every veteran who served was accountable: to their battle buddy, their unit, their commander. The VA needs that same accountability.

Just last month, the House VA committee voted to subpoena VA employees who are accused of abusing certain benefits to their personal profit. That vote was unanimous, because caring for our veterans isn’t a Republican or Democrat issue.

As a doctor, I know we can get veterans better and faster health care. Solutions range from integrating the Department of Defense and VA’s electronic medical files, so veterans don’t have to chase down paperwork when they transition to civilian life, to actually measuring the relative value units – doctor speak for how much health care costs – within the VA Health system, just like the private sector does. These fixes can resolve glaring inefficiencies and free up more resources to directly care for veterans.

Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, identified our nation’s responsibility: “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” The VA adopted this as its motto; let’s live up to the spirit and commitment of Lincoln.

Don’t limit your gratitude for our veterans to one day on the calendar, or one event in your town. Thanking a veteran isn’t an annual box to check.

As we continue to have troops in harm’s way, show your gratitude. Hear their stories of service. Remember why, when you tuck your children in at night, you feel safe, secure, unafraid and free. Freedom is the gift our veterans have given us.