The United States has the most comprehensive system of assistance for Veterans of any nation in the world, with roots that can be traced back to 1636, when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony were at war with the Pequot Indians. The Pilgrims passed a law that stated that disabled soldiers would be supported by the colony.
The first consolidation of federal Veterans programs took place August 9, 1921, when Congress combined all World War I Veterans programs to create the Veterans Bureau. Public Health Service Veterans’ hospitals were transferred to the bureau, and an ambitious hospital construction program for World War I Veterans commenced.
Following World War II, there was a vast increase in the Veteran population, and Congress enacted large numbers of new benefits for war Veterans – the most significant of which was the World War II GI Bill, signed into law June 22, 1944. It is said the GI Bill had more impact on the American way of life than any law since the Homestead Act of 1862.
These are some basic facts. I won’t bore you with all the details, but rather my goal is to give you an overview of the VA and what led to where the agency is today. To be sure there have been and will be in the future some hiccups along the way. All the administrators and VA employees I have had the pleasure of working with are all striving to better help Veterans.
The Veterans Health Administration is the largest single health care provider in the world. It has given many innovations to the medical field. Just to name a few of the many and ones you may be most familiar with:
- Unveiled the first ankle foot prosthesis.
- Showed effectiveness of new vaccine for shingles.
- Developed the nicotine patch.
- Performed first liver transplants.
- Invented the first successful pacemaker.
- Pioneered concepts that led to the CAT scan.
- Created the white cane for the visually impaired.
The VA is constantly striving to give better care to Veterans. Personally, I am thankful the VA is there for me.
