The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Cristina Johnson
The nation carries a lasting duty to those who have served and their families who have quietly shouldered the weight of that service. Essentially, it is a promise that cannot be measured by ceremonies or words alone but through an enduring commitment to their well-being. That reminder comes into sharper focus each November, when the country commemorates Veterans Day and the National Veterans and Military Families Month. Yet in communities like Tucson and across Southern Arizona — whose military operations have since contributed more than $8 billion to the state’s economy — these observances must go beyond celebration. They must also compel the country to tackle the lasting consequences of toxic exposure and the persistent struggles of veterans and their families to obtain the care and recognition they deserve.
The toxic aftermath of military service
Southern Arizona’s ties to the military run deep. The region is home to more than 150,700 veterans who have served in World War II and other previous major conflicts. Yet for many of them, the risks of their profession did not end when they received their DD-214, as the facilities where they worked and lived for years have left behind a toxic legacy that continues to threaten their health and, in many cases, that of their families. Unmistakably, asbestos lies at the center of this crisis. Once celebrated for its strength and heat resistance, this natural mineral was extensively used on Navy ships — especially those constructed before the 80s — as well as numerous aircraft hangars and installations, such as Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. The material’s microscopic fibers have triggered different severe health conditions for thousands of veterans. This issue is particularly pronounced in Arizona, which recorded 5,157 related deaths from 1999 to 2017, including over 160 fatalities in the southern region alone.
Even more concerning is that asbestos is just one part of a much larger and more complex problem. The reality is that several military installations across Southern Arizona also bear the marks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), lead, burn pit emissions, and more pollutants known to cause cancers and various ailments. Among these is Air Force Plant 44 in Tucson, which was added to the Superfund National Priorities List after test results revealed elevated levels of lead and numerous other chemicals. It also detected up to 139 parts per trillion of PFAS, which prompted a thorough cleanup to mitigate soil and groundwater pollution in the area. Worse still, these toxins are rarely restricted to directly exposed individuals — they also infiltrate homes and communities, thereby placing spouses, children, and civilians at grave risk. Such is a sobering reminder that the cost of military service is carried silently into the lives of families and generations that follow.
Advancing reform beyond celebration
Southern Arizona remains steadfast in honoring the bravery of its veterans, yet we must recognize that genuine respect strongly demands reform. Although that commitment found early expression in the passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 — which expanded healthcare and compensation for service members harmed by toxic exposure — its enforcement is only the beginning. Accordingly, under this program, nearly three million applications have already been submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including 72,433 from Arizona. Of these, almost two million were already approved as of September 2025, and over $6.8 billion was paid to veterans in 2024. Yet while these numbers are promising, they denote only how far the effort has come — not how far it still must go to ensure the overall well-being of veterans and their families.
Such urgency is reflected in the recently announced survivor benefit programs designed to alleviate the burden on families of fallen veterans and service members, and in the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, which aims to provide crucial federal assistance to those struggling with their mortgages. But even as these measures are implemented, they will only be meaningful if they yield tangible improvements for veterans and their families, who bear together the invisible scars of military service. That said, this month underscores that honoring service means ensuring the debt owed to veterans is repaid not in words, but in lasting care, protection and justice.
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