Happy Veterans Day! November 11 became the national holiday for Veterans in 1938. It originated as “Armistice Day” in 1919 (the first anniversary of World War I), and has quickly evolved into what we know it as today. Veterans Day is the perfect time to honor all American service members, living or dead. On this day, we also give thanks to living veterans who have served the United States during war or peacetime.
Veterans Day is important because it gives all of America a chance to remember and acknowledge the peril that our veterans endured during their service, and continue to face today. Many Americans keep soldiers in their thoughts and prayers during their deployment overseas or time on base, but what about decades later, when they have been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure during their time of service?
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is found naturally within our environment, but can be deadly to humans if prolonged exposure occurs. Exposure can lead to problems in the respiratory system, different forms of cancer, and death. Although the effects of asbestos are deadly, this mineral was once praised by our country, made into different materials, and worked into all of our military divisions as insulation and fire-proofing within ships, trucks, and much more.
It is estimated that 30% of mesothelioma patients today are American veterans. While Navy veterans are most at risk for being exposed to asbestos during their time of service, it had been used within all branches of the military up until the 1970s. Even after the use of asbestos was phased out of military products and buildings, much of it remained in place and is still around today. It is no wonder that so many of our older veterans are affected by asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Brayton Purcell, LLP works tirelessly to defend the rights of military veterans exposed to asbestos. Are you a veteran who was exposed during your time of service? Brayton Purcell successfully represented Anthony Cadlo, a 60-year-old former U.S. Navy machinist and engineering officer suffering from terminal pleural mesothelioma caused by his service-related exposure to asbestos. A San Francisco jury awarded him $8,673,704. Contact us today to find out what you are entitled to.
Stay tuned to find out more about our American veterans this week.