The debt that America owes its veterans will never be fully repaid but at least is recognized more keenly now that its warriors are dispatched to two fronts, and the painful news of fallen patriots comes back home with devastating regularity.

Veterans Day is an occasion for a solemn public to honor the service and sacrifice of those in the armed forces. It's encouraging to see initiatives introduced recently in Washington to give that expression of gratitude real substance.

In October reforms were enacted making the health-care funding for veterans more predictable to avoid rationing of care; Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka, who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, was part of that push.

Last week the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by Secretary Eric Shinseki, set out a five-year goal to curb homelessness among veterans, pledging $3.2 billion to the campaign.

This week President Obama signed an executive order creating a Veterans Employment Program office to help vets find jobs with federal agencies and assisting them with adjustment to civilian life.

And on the eve of Veterans Day, Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye joined with other sponsors to introduce the proposed Military Families Act, which would extend legal residency status to immediate family members of active-duty military immigrants who lost their lives in military service. Also covered in this bill are children of Filipino World War II veterans whose promised path to citizenship was deferred for decades.

Residents can take pride that Hawaii's native sons — Obama, Shinseki, Inouye and Akaka — play a prominent role in efforts to better the lives of veterans.

But as Americans, all should applaud the outreach to help those who serve have a decent life. After all, these are people who have given or risked their lives defending the American dream. They have more than earned their chance to reach for that dream, too.