We've all heard it before.

Memorial Day weekend should be more than just one less day of class. It should be a time to celebrate those who have served our country and think of those who are serving, right?

But there's more.

As we remember, there are many here who, although they finished their deployment months or years ago, are still suffering. Due to post-traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD, a growing number of soldiers are not leaving the war behind when they finish their deployment.

A recent Seattle Times article reported that studies have shown up to 25 percent of combat veterans will eventually suffer from PTSD or other mental health problems. And the numbers are only growing. PTSD can cause depression, nightmares, flashbacks, irritability and other symptoms, and can be a life-long battle.

Several types of treatment for the disorder have been put on trial, but no real solution has been found for these soldiers. This is partially due to the fact that the money needed to implement programs to identify and treat PTSD is scarce. Congress has started considering legislation related to this problem, but it has made little progress.

Meanwhile, soldiers and their families are becoming desperate at the idea of PTSD being a part of their lives indefinitely. The disorder keeps many soldiers from returning to lives that even resemble what they used to be.

As the war continues and PTSD uproots more soldiers' lives, America needs to start taking better care of its own.

Money needs to be reserved for the aftermath of the war, not just the war itself. We need to abandon our tunnel vision and start looking to the future.

If we don't, people who risked their lives in the war will be living with its terror forever, and they certainly deserve to move on with their lives.