{"id":71807,"date":"2023-03-16T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/03\/16\/va-to-change-its-motto-droppin-male-only-language\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:28:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:28:38","slug":"va-to-change-its-motto-droppin-male-only-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2023\/03\/16\/va-to-change-its-motto-droppin-male-only-language\/","title":{"rendered":"VA to change its motto, dropping male-only language"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veterans Affairs leaders are changing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/veterans\/2022\/06\/09\/despite-promises-of-inclusivity-va-motto-remains-focused-on-men\/\" target=\"_blank\">the department\u2019s mission statement<\/a> from the current male-only focus to be more welcoming to women veterans, officials announced Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/veterans\/2017\/11\/02\/va-unfazed-by-criticism-of-sexist-motto\/\" target=\"_blank\">current motto<\/a> \u2014 in use by VA and the Veterans Administration since 1959 \u2014 is based on an excerpt from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/linc\/learn\/historyculture\/lincoln-second-inaugural.htm\" target=\"_blank\">President Abraham Lincoln\u2019s second inaugural address<\/a>: \u201cTo fulfill President Lincoln\u2019s promise \u2018to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan\u2019 by serving and honoring the men and women who are America\u2019s veterans.\u201d It\u2019s displayed prominently at about half of all VA hospitals, cemeteries and office buildings across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new motto will still be based on Lincoln\u2019s words but instead reads: \u201cTo fulfill President Lincoln\u2019s promise to care for those who have served in our nation\u2019s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/education-transition\/2019\/07\/18\/why-leaving-the-military-is-harder-for-female-vets\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/C-women-sit-ups.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Why leaving the military is harder for female vets<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Women veterans face different social expectations, a lack of a peer support, problems finding child care, and are more likely to face financial problems compared to their male counterparts<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The use of male-specific language in the original mission statement has long drawn criticism from veterans advocates who note that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/education-transition\/2021\/03\/12\/wounded-women-veterans-face-higher-levels-of-loneliness-isolation-report\/\" target=\"_blank\">women veterans<\/a> are the fastest growing cohort of the community, expected to make up one in every five living veterans in America by 2040.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA leaders said the decision was made after interviews with more than 30,000 veterans over the last two years. According to those surveys, the change was supported by the majority of every age group, racial group and gender group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They noted that the motto change not only includes a wider scope of veterans, but also better emphasizes the role of veterans\u2019 family in their care and benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhenever any veteran, family member, caregiver, or survivor walks by a VA facility, we want them to see themselves in the mission statement on the outside of the building,\u201d VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement. \u201cWe are here to serve all veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors \u2014 and now, our mission statement reflects exactly that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new motto also downplays the role of combat operations in veterans benefits, to reinforce that anyone who serves honorably in the military is granted a wide range of education support and financial assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA leaders and veterans advocates were scheduled to unveil the new statement during an event at the Military Women\u2019s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/education-transition\/2021\/03\/12\/wounded-women-veterans-face-higher-levels-of-loneliness-isolation-report\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"188\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3282514.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Wounded women veterans face higher levels of loneliness, isolation: report<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Officials say the new survey from Wounded Warrior Project shows a need for more transition programs focused on women.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both McDonough\u2019s predecessor, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/07\/30\/plan-to-change-va-motto-to-include-women-draws-republican-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">VA Secretary Robert Wilkie<\/a>, and former President Donald Trump had adamantly opposed any change in the motto, calling it an attack on history and an attempt to erase Lincoln\u2019s words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple Democratic lawmakers in recent years have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/11\/08\/as-more-female-vets-head-to-congress-lawmakers-update-efforts-to-change-vas-motto\/\" target=\"_blank\">introduced legislation<\/a> to force a change, without success. Many advocates expected a change early in President Joe Biden\u2019s administration, but VA officials opted for a slower approach, with numerous behind-the-scenes conversations to track the opinions of veterans groups and policy makers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Thursday, advocates involved in the fight praised the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor too long, women and LGBTQ+ veterans have been considered \u2018invisible veterans\u2019 \u2014 feeling inadequately recognized by our fellow Americans,\u201d said Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and herself an Iraq War veteran. \u201cWe\u2019re one step closer to changing the way America sees its veterans today, and that\u2019s a damn good reason to celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA staff said that the change to the new motto will take place over the next few months. No information was released on how much updating plaques and displays at department buildings will cost.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new statement will note VA&#8217;s goal is &#8220;to care for those who have served in our nation\u2019s military and for their families, caregivers, and 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