WASHINGTON – As the nation mourns the passing of Navy veteran and President Gerald R. Ford on Tuesday, Jan. 2, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, outpatient clinics, Vet Centers and national cemeteries will remain open to serve President Ford’s fellow veterans, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson announced today.
“VA and the entire veterans’ community mourn the passing of President Ford – who served our nation in the Navy long before the world knew him as President, Vice President or Congressman,” Secretary Nicholson said. “Because hundreds of thousands of President Ford’s fellow veterans count on VA for services each day, I am sure the Ford family will understand our need to care for his fellow veterans, even as we mourn his passing.”
Veterans with scheduled clinic appointments, surgeries or other procedures at one of VA’s 155 hospitals or 876 outpatient clinics should report as scheduled, unless otherwise instructed. VA’s 207 Vet Centers will also be open to serve the needs of combat veterans in need of readjustment support.
Also scheduled to be open are the 124 VA-operated national cemeteries. Burials, inurnments, visitations and other memorial events scheduled for Tuesday will be conducted, unless surviving families request otherwise.
VA’s administrative offices, including the Department’s Washington headquarters and 57 regional benefits offices, will be closed Tuesday in observance of the National Day of Mourning.
Secretary Nicholson has invited World War II veterans and their families to show their respect to President Ford by attending a ceremony in the President’s honor on Saturday, December 30, at 4:30 p.m. at the World War II Memorial in Washington. At that time, the motorcade escorting President Ford’s remains will pause at the memorial en route from Andrews Air Force Base to the U.S. Capitol.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
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