Homeless Veterans Enjoy A Free Meal On Their Day

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- The Veterans Administration estimates that more than 130,000 former servicemen and women are homeless. Some of the homeless vets in the Nation's Capitol spent the day getting a free, hot meal on the day set aside to honor their service to their country.

Two sounds could be heard from the corner of 14th and R streets in Washington, one was Robert Johnson blowing a tune on his sax. The other came from inside the Central Union Mission, where free lunch was served up to homeless veterans. Mostly men, this group served overseas in this country's wars only to return home, injured in many cases, to more conflict.

Eric Watkins fall through the cracks didn't take that long, he's a Special Forces marine veteran with tours in Iraq and Afganistan. At 40-years-old, 9NEWS NOW found Eric living at the CCNV shelter.

Eric showed up here four months ago and was quickly put in charge of security for the 700 other homeless people living here. How did this marine ended up homeless? Well, it's complicated.

His military service ended after almost seven years when his first wife died of cancer. A second marriage ended in divorce, and he's had no contact with his three daughters. He lost a job in the hospitality industry, and his home in Northwest DC was foreclosed on.

A good looking veteran with no visible wounds is an example that the scars on the inside sometimes take a lot longer to heal.