Friday's story in on the plight of some of the Island's war veterans should shame the community.

To be sure, those veterans who are having difficulties making ends are no different from many other senior citizens who are facing high health and living costs with inadequate pensions or savings.

And Government needs to tackle the overall issue as a matter of urgency.

Nonetheless, a special case can and should be made for the men who put their lives at risk in the Second World War.

These men are now in their 70s or more and in some cases, will not enjoy much more time on this Earth. They are entitled to enjoy the sunset of their lives with dignity.

More importantly, Bermuda owes them a debt for their role in keeping the world safe from tyranny and dictatorship.

It is worth remembering that the war veterans from Bermuda were all volunteers, who put their names forward to serve overseas.

They served as soldiers, sailors and airmen all over the world, not knowing when their lives might be put at risk and left friends and comrades behind when the war ended.

For that, they deserve the community's thanks and the community should ensure that they are honoured and respected for their sacrifice.

While there are services in place to assist veterans, both through the War Veterans Association and the War Pensions Commission, it may be that they some are not aware of what's available.

And even then, it is possible that what is available is not entirely adequate. As memories of the Second World War fade, and as the number of veterans dwindles, it is likely that contributions for Remembrance Day will dwindle, just when some veterans, who are no longer able to work and may well be supporting their wives as well, need help the most.

In addition, the number of veterans is no longer large, meaning that this should not be a major financial sacrifice for a Country as wealthy as Bermuda.

Tomorrow, the veterans will parade on Front Street again to remember the friends who never returned from foreign battlefields and those who have fallen victim to ill health and old age since.

It is hard to envision today what a world at war would be like, nor how close the world's democracies came to falling to the forces of fascism.

The world that emerged from the Second World War was a better one that preceded it, and the ideals that were the basis on which democracy was expanded and segregation was ended over the next 40 years.

That is the gift that Bermuda's veterans ? many of them still in their teens to early 20s then ? gave to the rest of us, and they should be honoured for it and given every comfort in their old age.