Your March 28 editorial about the terrible underfunding of Tricare is right on the money. It has amazed me the past few years that the current administration constantly talks about “supporting the troops,” yet when it comes to putting their money where their mouths are, nothing is further from the truth. Tax cuts for the wealthy and war on the cheap are what is being practiced, and the troops, retirees and their families are those who suffer.

Supporting our troops means much more than slogans, flag waiving and bumper stickers. It means ponying up the money to provide them and their families, amongst other benefits, first class medical care and freedom from worry about how they might have to obtain and pay for this.

Across the country, medical providers are withdrawing from the Tricare program for the very same reasons given by the wonderful and dedicated professionals at Whidbey Community Physicians. And, based on the exquisite care we received from WCP, “wonderful and dedicated” is an understatement. Amongst the blessings we enjoyed on Whidbey, and now miss, WCP is at the top of the list.

Medical providers should not be the only ones to sacrifice to provide medical care for our active and retired military families. That is the job of the public at large. If you support the troops, then demand that the government raise and appropriate the necessary tax dollars to care for these troops and their families.

If you are not willing to pay for quality care for those of us who are and have worn the uniform to defend the country and our families who supported our careers, then you do not “support our troops.” How many Walter Reed and Tricare underfunding scandals do we need before we get off our bottoms and really support the troops? Take the money you spend on bumper stickers, car magnets and flags, and demand your government accept it to improve medical care funding for the troops.

Al and Ardy Fragola

Paros Island

Greece