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1789 A law was passed to give money to soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
1861 The Civil War broke out. The number of Union veterans grew from 80,000 to 2 million!
1862 President Lincoln started national cemeteries. This was to honor the many Union dead from the Civil War.
1865 President Lincoln gave his second inaugural speech. He asked Congress to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan. This became VAs motto.
1912 A new law called the Sherwood Act was passed. This gave pensions (money) to veterans of the Mexican and Civil Wars when they turned 62, even if they were not sick or disabled.
1930 President Hoover signed a bill creating the Veterans Administration (VA).
1940 Congress created a law to help World War II veterans find jobs when they came home from war. 
1944 A lot of people were hurt and killed in World War II. This left many families in need. On June 22, 1944, President Roosevelt signed the GI Bill of Rights. This helped veterans go to college and buy a home.
1946 More hospitals were built to take care of veterans. VA was able to train and hire good doctors. VA also started research that has helped all of us.
1973 The Army gave 82 cemeteries to the Veterans Administration. VA makes sure that veterans and family members have a respectful burial place forever.
1988 Congress made VA a Cabinet Department. This means that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs meets with the President of the United States.
1998 All eligible veterans could now enroll in VAs health care system. |
