“Lawmakers are calling for Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to replace what they call an ‘outdated’ and ‘exclusionary’ VA motto and halt plans to memorialize it in bronze at all national veteran cemeteries across the country.”
“Democrats on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, led by Chairman Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., and Women Veterans Task Force Chair Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., sent a letter to Wilkie Thursday criticizing his recent decision to place plaques in all VA cemeteries with the motto advocates, women veterans and some lawmakers have for years argued should be changed.”
“That motto quotes President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address in 1865: ‘To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.’”
“While the lawmakers said they agreed the ‘original spirit’ of Lincoln’s words were inclusive, they argued that it was time to alter the motto slightly to reflect a more diverse veteran population…”
“Lawmakers and advocates suggest an alternative, more inclusive motto that echoes Lincoln’s words: ‘To care for those who shall have borne the battle, and for their families, caregivers and survivors…’”
“The members of Congress called for VA to specifically:
- Replace the motto;
- Share cost estimates for the plan to install motto plaques at all VA cemeteries;
- Conduct a study of veterans, families and caregivers, oversampling for women veterans and veterans of color, for their opinions on the motto;
- Provide Congress a list of all locations where the motto currently appears on signs.” Read the full article here.
Source: Lawmakers urge VA Sec to replace controversial Veterans Affairs motto, halt plans for plaques – By Abbie Bennett, June 18, 2020. Connecting Vets.
