MAY 30th was Memorial Day, when Americans remember those who died serving in the armed forces. Military graves were decorated with flags. Sol diers and sailors marched in parades honouring the fallen. Unfortunately, living veterans are having a tough time. Unemployment among veterans who have served since 2001 is higher than for non-veterans. Veterans make up 20% of all suicides. Nearly a fifth of the homeless population in the United States are veter ans. Substance abuse is pervasive. Many more have mental-health problems, which often lead to criminal behaviour. Robert Russell, a judge in Buffalo, New York, after noticing an increasing number of veterans on his docket, in 2008 created the first court specialised and adapted to meet the needs of veterans.
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