The new GI Bill is proving a boon for veterans who want to further their education — so much so that the response to the program strained the system to the limit, causing delays in processing applications.

The problem left tens of thousands of veterans scrambling to cover their college expenses.

So it's encouraging that the Veterans Administration, which has endured criticism in the past for its lackluster service to veterans, responded swiftly with roughly $70 million in emergency checks to cover shortfalls caused by the delays.

But the problems of meeting the demand also shows the need to ensure that the Post/911 GI Bill, which went into effect Aug. 1, doesn't fall short of its promise to future veterans and their families.

About 460,000 veterans are expected to tap into the benefits, which pay for the equivalent of full in-state tuition, books, housing and other expenses. The anticipated cost of the program is about $78 billion over the next decade.

In Hawaii, more than 160 students at the University of Hawaii-Mänoa are using the Post/911 benefits; at Hawaii Pacific University, more than 300. "I anticipate that (participation in the Post/911 program) is going to grow over time," said Bob Cyboron, HPU's associate vice president for off-campus programs. That's an encouraging sign.

The Post/911 GI Bill provides more generous education benefits than previous GI Bill programs. But it emulates one of the most successful: The original GI Bill of 1944, which gave a generation of World War II veterans a college education, developing a professional class that formed the foundation of the country's post-war economic boom.

With today's economy in the doldrums, providing our veterans with a higher education is a wise investment in the country's future. It's also an investment they've earned; they should receive their due, on time and paid in full.