va mottoOn March 16, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it changed the motto it has used since 1959.

The former motto included an excerpt from President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, in which he noted it is our nation’s responsibility “to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”

The new, more inclusive motto is still based on Lincoln’s words but instead reads, “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”

The VA now serves more than 600,000 women veterans, 50,000 veteran caregivers, 600,000 surviving family members of veterans and millions of other veterans. The updated motto more accurately reflects all the populations who utilize VA services