Smith Report
“To care for him who shall have borne
the battle and for his widow and his orphan.”These
words delivered by President Abraham Lincoln
during his second inaugural address in 1865 have
become the Department of Veterans Affairs’motto
over the past 75 years.
On July 21, 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed
Executive Order 5398, which brought together
the U.S. Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions,
and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers into a single new agency —the
Veterans Administration, now the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Over the past 75 years, the mission of the Department
of Veterans Affairs, as a single federal agency,
has not wavered from the promise to the nation
made by President Lincoln -- to provide first-rate
health care to our nation’s veterans.
As VA employees, we are about service of the
noblest type. We serve those men and women of
the armed forces who have lived a commitment
to protect our nation. For each of us, this is
an awesome responsibility and privilege.
In an effort to renew our commitment and pride
in serving veterans, the national VA initiative “Affirming
the Commitment”has been implemented to
help our current and future VA employees develop
a better understanding and appreciation of veterans
and their military service.
Additionally, through your participation in
the All Employee Survey and Best Places to Work
in Baltimore survey, we have been able to gain
insight from your feedback, which has enabled
us to develop action plans to enhance services
to veterans and create a culture that is more
gratifying for you as a VA Maryland Health Care
System employee.
Throughout this year’s celebration of
the VA’s 75th Anniversary, we have had
an excellent opportunity to reflect on our many
accomplishments as an organization and as a health
care system. These accomplishments would not
have been possible without your ongoing commitment
and dedication
as a VA employee.
Please accept my gratitude for your unwavering
commitment to serving the needs of Maryland’s
veterans with outstanding care and compassion.
Sincerly,
Dennis H. Smith
Director, VA Maryland Health Care System
Bay
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