The Origin of the VA Motto Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
Velandy Manohar
Retired First Medical Director, Aware Recovery Care, and President, ARC In Home Addiction Treatment PC
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC
Celebrating America’s Freedom.
The Origin of the VA Motto Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
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Lincoln’s immortal words became the VA motto in 1959, when the plaques were installed, and can be traced to Sumner G. Whittier, administrator of what was then called the Veterans Administration. A document on VA medical history prepared for the congressional Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and titled, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle,” details how the words became VA’s motto. “He (Whittier) worked no employee longer or harder than himself to make his personal credo the mission of the agency. What was that credo? Simply the words of Abraham Lincoln, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan. To indicate the mission of his agency’s employees, Mr. Whittier had plaques installed on either side of the main entrance.”
President Lincoln’s words have stood the test of time, and stand today as a solemn reminder of VA’s commitment to care for those injured in our nation’s defense and the families of those killed in its service. I totally concur but this commitment over the past 8 years has been severely frayed and almost shredded at the front end. 1. Transition from active duty to VA system especially for those in treatment currently in the service. 2. Referral in timely effective and efficient manner to staff in centers of excellence within VA according to need and to Caring Clinicians across the length and breath of this country who want to care for our veterans namely live up to our Martyred President's commitment- "...to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan" I will do what I can to support this mission. So please help me God and strengthen those within the magnificent VA System just in terms of magnitude and importance of their responsibilities to do this well and on a timely manner.