'I feel stuck': Due to rising gas prices, some Americans are staying home on Memorial Day
"I don't have any plans to do anything," a disabled veteran told ABC News.
Despite a spike in gas prices across the country, more than 45 million Americans are projected to travel more than 50 miles to mark Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., according to American Automobile Association (AAA). But for some Americans who are struggling financially due to the rising cost of living, even short-distance travel is out of reach.
"Typically, we do a cookout or try to get with family during Memorial Day," said Amanda Hamilton, a single mother of two who lives in Kentucky. "I don't really have plans for Memorial Day [this year] just based on trying to save money."
Brenda Howard, a retired 66-year-old from Lubbock, Texas, told ABC News this Memorial Day "will be a lonely one" for many Americans.
"Especially seniors because [we] just don't have access to transportation to get to our loved ones; to get to the things we used to do before prices went sky high," she said.
In an emotional interview, Howard told ABC News that the rising cost of living, especially gas, has isolated her from her community and made her a "prisoner" in her own home.
"Normally I would be hanging out with friends somewhere, would be barbecuing, and you know, just having a good time," she said. "I'm not doing anything this year. Without a vehicle, I'm stuck."
Howard, who cannot afford a car, said that she relies on Ubers for transportation in Lubbock, where buses or trains are unavailable. But she said that over the past year, the rates for ride share apps have doubled and this has prevented her from going to work -- she started her own house cleaning business after she retired -- and to church events.
"Not going to church, not having the ability to afford an Uber is, is just killing me," she said.
According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) and GasBuddy, the fuel savings platform, gas prices across the U.S. have climbed sharply, reaching their highest level in four years as the ongoing war in Iran continues to disrupt global oil market supplies.
Since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, the typical American household has paid an extra $326 for gas and diesel, according to researchers at Brown University, who say that higher fuel prices have cost consumers an extra $42.8 billion.
The White House has acknowledged the rise in gas prices, but when asked about the economic impacts of the war, President Donald Trump said repeatedly that preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon is a priority.
Trump said on Thursday that the conflict in Iran would "end soon" and have positive impacts on the domestic economy.
"And this is with the Iran conflict that will end soon, very soon, and when it ends, your gasoline prices will go down lower than they were before," Trump said.
Hamilton, who has a 6-year-old daughter with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, told ABC News that she drives her accessible van two and half hours for her daughter's doctor appointments several times a month and the rising gas prices have been "anxiety provoking."
"It really takes a toll on me emotionally, because I want to give my child the best quality of life possible, and if I can't even afford gas prices, what does that look like?" she said. "It feels like there's no end in sight."
Like Hamilton, Betsy Rosado, who lives in Spring Hill, Florida, with her husband and five children, cited the rising cost of gas as she described the challenges of caring for her disabled child, who requires frequent medical appointments and equipment.
"I just don't make enough to cover groceries, the gas, medical bills, medical equipment," she told ABC News.
Rosado said that she recently had to cancel a speech therapy appointment for her daughter, who has Down syndrome and is nonverbal, because she couldn't afford gas.
"[As a family] it is making us choose, do we want to go ... to the doctors? Or do I want to go grocery shopping?" she said.
Asked about her Memorial Day plans, Rosado said she and her family will "unfortunately" be staying home to save money for the children's schooling needs.
Likewise, Juan Saro, who suffered from a brain injury and PTSD while serving in the Navy from 2002 to 2011, cited the rising cost of transportation as he reflected on how this holiday will be different.
"Memorial Day is coming up, and in years past, I would go visit family ... we have a barbecue. I would go up to Lake Lanier. I would visit friends," he said. "Then this year not having a vehicle. ... I don't have any plans to do anything. I feel stuck."
Saro, who lives in Decatur, Georgia, supports two young boys who were left in his care by a friend and receives unemployment benefits from the VA due to his disability, he said. He noted that he had to give up his car a few months ago due to the rising cost of living and ride share apps like Uber and Lyft becoming unaffordable.
"The VA benefits are not keeping up with the rise of food prices and fuel prices," Saro said.
"I remember the sacrifice that I made, I remember sacrifice we all made, and just what that means to me," Saro said, reflecting on what Memorial Day means to him, "And I hold on to that, hold on to the pride that I felt when I was in the military, and just continue doing the best that I can do."
Saro said that he reached out to his state senators and their VA liaisons to discuss reform and they have been "very responsive." He said he hopes to continue advocating for legislation that would make the VA "be better for veterans."
Asked about his message to lawmakers, Saro said that "veterans are being left behind."
"My message would be to just don't forget about us," he said.
ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze, Sabina Ghebremedhin, Taylor Dunn, Soo Youn and Will Lennon contributed to this report.