This Memorial Day, Americans will gather on the hallowed grounds of VA’s national cemeteries to remember our war dead, pay homage to their courage, and honor those who sacrificed so much to preserve our nation.

I count myself fortunate to have spent much of my life in public service and to have joined an organization where we have a workforce that takes great pride in our noble mission. At VA, we honor those who made the supreme sacrifice by caring for their survivors, for Veterans who returned from battle, for those who served in periods of peace and for their families.

This is, simply, the most inspiring mission in the federal government — to care for those “who shall have borne the battle.” While we have made progress, more work remains to be done to uphold our commitments and our obligations to those we serve.

I am sincerely grateful for the unwavering support of Veterans service organizations and the devoted workforce of VA. Our employees, many of whom are Veterans, work hard each and every day to best serve our Veterans. I am honored to serve alongside them.

On this Memorial Day, I encourage all Americans to pause for a moment and to reflect on those who have gone before us in service to America—and to reverently remember those who gave their last full measure for our country.

Thank you, and God bless all who serve our nation.

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6 Comments

  1. Mrs Aisha Amir June 6, 2018 at 01:49

    Try to finish hate from the world.From Aisha Amir’s Peace Tree.

  2. Terri L Mulero June 1, 2018 at 00:46

    Dear Secretary Willie,

    Please make sure that someone takes the time to make sure that all female service members , and Veterans are protected from sexual, mental, emotional , and Psychological abuse on the battlefield and back at home.

    Please make it a priority for all Veterans have a home, where they are respected, and given top of the line services that will get all Veterans safe affordable housing in a peaceful neighborhood. So that they can heal from the stress and traumas of life.
    Especially life serving their country.

  3. Martha Edgin May 28, 2018 at 14:09

    Please see that funding is found for addition of #bladdedcancer to Vietnam Veterans Presumptive List per Shulkin’s recommendation Nov 1,2017. We have worked for five years to get bladder cancer to approval level. IOM raised BC to approval level in 2014 Agent Orange Report. Finally. vA Secretary took hold and recommended approval. Issue is stagnating in OMB, I believe. We now have thousand of VVets suffering from this life changing disease because BC can take 30-50 years AFTER e posture to develop. Pleas address this issue immediately. Veterans are dying with no government help.

  4. Alex J Tschirhart May 26, 2018 at 10:01

    American Legion Post 460 in Castroville TX. has a well attended Memorial Day ceremony ever year with a guest speaker to honor our veterans that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

    Alex J. Tschirhart
    Former Commander

  5. Louis J Apa May 25, 2018 at 11:42

    Dear Honorable Robert Wilkie , to be named by President Trump as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs ;
    Thank you for your help to make the VA a better organization. I look to a better experience than that which I have experienced of late for non-VA care, so that I may be more at ease from PTSD distress for being dunned to pay non-VA care bills. Best wishes for your Secretariat of The VA.
    Respectfully your,

  6. shipdog7 May 25, 2018 at 10:32

    I will shed a tear for all of my fellow comrades who can’t be here on Memorial day 2018. They have sacrificed much more than I have. They gave their life for their country. God Bless them and our country.

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