In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln laid the foundation for our nation’s moral duty to its veterans — a duty that became the mission of the VA:
“To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”
But somewhere along the way, that stopped being a sacred promise… and started sounding more like a tagline.
My father, Sgt. Richard Andrew Conn, served in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device for valor under fire. He returned home, raised a family, and lived with chronic pain, invisible wounds, and undiagnosed illnesses for decades. He never asked for special treatment — just basic care. But the system failed him at every level.
He bore the battle — and yet, the VA left him behind.
Veterans are still waiting months for referrals, being denied needed care, and falling through the cracks of broken charting systems. Widows and families are still being denied benefits — even when the evidence is overwhelming. And some of us are fighting harder for justice after our loved ones have died than the government ever did while they were alive.
If we can’t honor the spirit of Lincoln’s words… then we need reform.
🖤 Please sign and share this petition:
📣Let’s remind our leaders that their mission should still mean something.
#TheConnAct #VAReform #VeteransDeserveBetter #BorneTheBattle #PACTAct #GoldStarDaughter