More than 150 years ago, President Lincoln signed a law establishing a home to care for wounded soldiers. On March 3, 1865, a month before the Civil War ended, the world’s first government institution solely dedicated to caring for honorably discharged volunteer soldiers was created. Subsequent presidents continued to build on Lincoln’s legacy by establishing state veterans’ homes, providing medical and hospital care, and enrolling veterans in insurance and disability programs. All of these efforts eventually led to President Reagan’s official establishment of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 1988.
The VA is one of few agencies in the federal government that has largely stayed above the political fray. Even during times of political upheaval, the U.S. has continued its tradition of prioritizing care for the men and women who have sacrificed for our country.
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