The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) updated its mission statement by removing a quote said by former President Abraham Lincoln.
On Friday, the group released a statement explaining the change.
“To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors,” the new mission statement reads.
The previous statement read, “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise ‘to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan’ by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.”
According to the VA, the new statement is “inclusive of all those who have served in our nation’s military—including women Veterans—as well as Veteran families, caregivers, and survivors.”
The website notes the group serves more than 600,000 women Veterans.
The VA surveyed approximately 30,000 Veterans as part of creating the statement.
“Among Veterans surveyed, the new version of VA’s mission statement was chosen over the current version by every age group; by men and by women; by LGBTQ+ Veterans; and by white, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans,” the website explains.
“To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.” https://t.co/TZNOQByYQJ
— Veterans Affairs (@DeptVetAffairs) March 17, 2023
VA Secretary Denis McDonough said, “Whenever any Veteran, family member, caregiver or survivor walks by a VA facility, we want them to see themselves in the mission statement on the outside of the building.”
He added, “We are here to serve all Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors—and now, our mission statement reflects exactly that.”
Additionally, McDonough held an event commemorating the new statement, including speeches delivered by a woman Veteran, a caregiver and a survivor.
The former mission statement is located in roughly 50% of the group’s facilities, per the website.
The VA will replace the previous statement with the new one over the coming months.
