Nicholson Pledges “Continued Excellence” for Veterans
WASHINGTON – Capping a year-long observance of VA’s 75th anniversary of service to America’s veterans, the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, pledged “continued excellence” in programs and services during the next 75 years.
“VA is strong. We are moving forward,” said Nicholson. “We are fulfilling this nation’s commitment to veterans. Our noble mission is to honor our veterans’ sacrifices and to dignify the cause they served, by serving them.”
Nicholson’s remarks came as the Secretary joined Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and other congressional leaders Wednesday in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol for special services marking the close of VA’s year-long observance of its 75th anniversary.
On July 21, 1930, President Herbert Hoover established the Veterans Administration. At that time, it had 48 hospitals, and a work force of 30,000 who treated veterans in nearly 250,000 outpatient visits and 45,000 hospitalizations. Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs has 156 hospitals, nearly 900 clinics and 237,000 employees who care for veterans in about 55 million annual outpatient visits and 600,000 hospitalizations. VA also maintains 123 national cemeteries and 55 regional benefits offices.
During the anniversary year, VA continued to expand its services to the nation’s newest generation of combat veterans, while meeting an unprecedented challenge from the destruction of two VA hospitals – New Orleans and Gulfport, Miss. – from last fall’s hurricanes.
VA’s landmark system of computerized patient records meant the 40,000 veterans served by the two destroyed facilities were able to access their complete records, anywhere in the country, within days of evacuating from the Gulf Coast. That records system was honored earlier this month with the prestigious “Innovations in Government” award from Harvard University.
“The men and women who make their careers in VA are honored to work on behalf of America’s veterans and their families,” Nicholson said. “We have 75 years of proven dedication to veterans. Building upon that expertise, we will continue to provide world-class services to veterans during the next 75 years.”
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