The Nashville National Cemetery in Madison, Tenn., was established in July, 1866; with most of the land acquired shortly after the Civil War. The original interments were the remains of soldiers removed from temporary burial grounds around Nashville’s general hospitals, as well as the Civil War battlefields at Franklin and Gallatin, Tenn., and Bowling Green and Cave City, Ky. There are 4,141 unknowns interred at Nashville National Cemetery. The stone wall around the cemetery and the limestone archway at the entrance were both constructed in 1870. The present lodge, the third constructed at the cemetery, was built near the site of the original lodge and was completed in 1931. Nashville National Cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

The Nashville National Cemetery in Madison, Tenn., was established in July, 1866; with most of the land acquired shortly after the Civil War. The original interments were the remains of soldiers removed from temporary burial grounds around Nashville’s general hospitals, as well as the Civil War battlefields at Franklin and Gallatin, Tenn., and Bowling Green and Cave City, Ky. There are 4,141 unknowns interred at Nashville National Cemetery.
The stone wall around the cemetery and the limestone archway at the entrance were both constructed in 1870. The present lodge, the third constructed at the cemetery, was built near the site of the original lodge and was completed in 1931. Nashville National Cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 1988 elevated the administration into the Cabinet-level department we know today. It was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on Oct. 25, 1988, and came into effect under the term of President George H.W. Bush on March 15, 1989.

Fulfilling that sacred trust is the mission is of today’s VA and its nearly 340,000 employees, approximately 32 percent of whom are Veterans themselves.
To highlight our 25 years of service to Veterans, their families and survivors as the Department of Veterans Affairs, we’re sharing 25 facts you may not know about VA. Read more about the first five here. Here are facts 6-10:

  1. More than 4 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA’s cemeteries on more than 20,000 acres of land. On Nov. 11, 1998, the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-368) was signed into law, officially re-designating the National Cemetery System as the National Cemetery Administration and authorizes 100 percent funding for VA State Cemetery Grants Program.  From 1992 to 2013, VA opened 20 new National Cemeteries, part of the “biggest expansion since the Civil War.”
  2. In each of the last four years, VA has processed more than 1 million disability compensation and pension claims – more than ever before. At the same time, we’ve increased decision quality. Veterans, their families and survivors received $227.5 billion for compensation and pension benefits over that 4-year period.
  3. VA’s telemedicine program and the Community-Based Outpatient Clinic program began in 1997, expanding Veterans’ access to earned care and services.
  4. The 33rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games were held in Tampa in 2013. Attracting more than 500 athletes each year, the NVWG is the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world.
  5. In 1994, groundbreaking VA research demonstrated that one aspirin tablet a day reduced by half the rate of death and nonfatal heart attacks in patients with unstable angina.

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8 Comments

  1. Earl D Passmore March 19, 2014 at 10:33

    I have been fighting for Service Connected since 2001 and now am currently at the Appeal Process since Jan 2013. Called was informed that it takes 522 days to certified my appeal to VBA Washington. It took them less that 30 days to deny me at that was some 442 days ago. Why could they not just forward on to VBA in thirty days?

    • Yvonne Levardi March 19, 2014 at 14:28

      Earl, one of our benefits folks is going to check on the status and get in touch with you at your gmail address. Best, Yvonne Levardi

  2. Dlarochellemd March 19, 2014 at 02:34

    I have been a patient in the VA system since accepted for service connected disabilities in 1998. It required several visits to Fort Miley, and a nine month wait, but eventually I received a rating for Vietnam issues. The care has been excellent, and the doctors and nursing top notch. The eHealth program is a great addition. Mailing prescription medications to my address is a great benefit in time, travel, and expenses saved.
    Wait times for appointments, has improved. Parking is no longer a severe headache in traveling around full parking lots. Valet parking close to the appointment building is terrific. Great job Secretary of Veterans Affairs General Shinseki!

  3. JPHawke March 19, 2014 at 00:16

    Thank you!

  4. JPHawke March 19, 2014 at 00:16

    Here in Reno, Nevada we have good service these days and I was shocked to read of your experience with your VA Hospital. We have a VA Hospital here that has really improved over the last 30 years. I hope your hospital can improve their service for your area.

  5. Cindy haycock March 18, 2014 at 19:54

    Civilians ripped us all off, screw you VA. Shove your drugs up your hinny.

  6. victor m. zavala March 18, 2014 at 17:58

    well I have be deny on lot of time on my VA claims and my Harlingen Texas VA clinic have refuse to refill my service connected Meds and I follow all the procedures to fill a Torn Claim and was deny all the way to the Washington VA Counsel and my state senator wrote to my VA clinic Director and his lie to the State Senator of Texas and told him I was not Active and I just went to check in and I was still active and the doctor that was assigned to me No Longer Work There and I was never reassigned a New Doctor and since 2010 I have been suffering with pain and I am 70% disable Korea Veteran and Retired with 20 years and 4 month and this is the way I have been treated by this VA. I am very not comfortable the way this VA do business. Wish somebody will help me with this issues.

    • Dan F March 19, 2014 at 10:34

      Victor, Contact the Patient Advocate’s office or the Director’s office. You may also wish to contact a Veterans Service Officer at the county, DAV, AL or VFW.

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