![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/VA-Lincoln-quote-300x215.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nJonp sends a link from Stars & Stripes<\/a> which reports that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs responded to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Executive Director Allison Jaslow when she complained about an Abraham Lincoln quote that the agency uses as a motto;<\/p>\n The VA has had the same motto for 59 years: \u201cTo care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.\u201d The quote came from Abraham Lincoln\u2019s second inaugural address in 1865, the same year that he created the first-ever government institution for volunteer soldiers.<\/p>\n Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America called on VA Secretary David Shulkin in November to change the motto, describing it as sexist and outdated. The VA responded Jan. 26 that the motto was representative of \u201cthe heart of our noble mission.\u201d<\/p>\n IAVA Executive Director Allison Jaslow felt the response brushed off her group\u2019s request and was dismissive of larger, cultural obstacles for women veterans.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re missing the point that women don\u2019t feel comfortable at the VA,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want to be respected and appreciated as much as male veterans are, and the motto is symbolic of overall challenges.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Typical IAVA focused on the really important things in dealing with veterans and the care they deserve. I was surprised that the responding VA agent was Kayla Williams<\/a>, director of the VA Center for Women Veterans, who did a fairly good job answering the concerns of IAVA, such as they are;<\/p>\n In Williams\u2019 letter to Jaslow, she emphasized improvements the VA has made regarding care for women veterans. About 500,000 women veterans use VA health care, and they get screened for cervical cancer and breast cancer at higher rates than women do in the private sector or the Department of Defense. They also have access to prenatal and maternity care.<\/p>\n Williams noted each VA hospital has a military sexual trauma coordinator and at least one primary care provider for women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n Jaslow acknowledged once women veterans get into the VA, they generally receive good care. The problem, she said, is making women veterans feel comfortable enough to seek VA treatment.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n My doctors at the VA have generally been women. The folks who come to my home and manage my care are all women. They don’t seem to mind the motto at all.<\/p>\n It’s pretty gutsy of the IAVA to demand a motto change at the VA when their CEO is a valor thief<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"