opinion
This week, social media proved useful thanks to a widely-circulated Veterans Affairs memo posted on Site X by a popular account known for exposing woke ideology in the government. The memo called for the removal of the famous World War II photo showing a sailor celebrating D-Day by kissing a nurse in Times Square.
The memo asked VA facilities to remove the image and replace it with something more consistent with the organization's values. Why? Because the photo was allegedly against the Department of Veterans Affairs' zero-tolerance policy toward sexual assault and harassment. Unfortunately, the memo was allegedly never approved by Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, who apparently first heard about the memo via viral social media posts.
Minister McDonough explained that he did not agree to the memo, and the image would not be removed from any facility. However, questions remain about why anyone thought the memo was a good idea in the first place and whether those who facilitated its creation will be held accountable.
An iconic image of World War II that shocks?
In a memo signed by Assistant Undersecretary for Health and Operations Rima Ann Nelson, Virginia facilities were instructed to remove the famous photo showing a sailor kissing a nurse in celebration. According to the memo, the photo shows “inappropriate behavior” and depicts a “non-consensual act.”
Ms. Nelson wrote that the photo was displayed in Virginia facilities:
“…may be construed as an implicit endorsement of the inappropriate behavior it depicts.”
The memo goes on to demand the following:
“Employees have expressed discomfort with this photo being shown.”
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Ms. Nelson continues to instruct the escort to remove the image in order to:
“…promoting a more trauma-informed environment.”
Nothing to see here
Once the memo circulated on X, VA Secretary Denis McDonough rescinded the ban on the photo, stating that the photo would remain in VA facilities. He wrote in no uncertain terms:
“Let me be clear: This photo is not prohibited in VA facilities, and we will keep it in VA facilities.”
In response to calls for Ms Nelson's dismissal, Minister McDonough wrote:
“Rima has dedicated her career to serving veterans. We are fortunate to have her in Virginia, and she will remain in Virginia.”
Ms. Nelson already has a long employment history with the Department of Veterans Affairs. This is not the first time her ability to perform her duties has been questioned. In 2016, Congresswoman Krysten Sinema and Congressman Matt Salmon asked then-President Barack Obama to block Ms. Nelson's appointment to the then-besieged Phoenix, Arizona, VA hospital.
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Their reason was due to its track record at its previous location in St. Louis. They wrote to President Obama:
“Under Ms. Nelson, St. Louis Hospital was closed twice due to unsafe and unsanitary conditions, and was ranked last in the nation in patient satisfaction out of 126 VA medical centers.”
However, their request was not approved, and now Ms. Nelson has climbed the VA ladder, her abilities questioned, and still shielded from accountability.
Wrong focus
This is not the first time the VA has made a decision based on woke ideology to try to erase history. Last year, the Department of Veterans Affairs updated its logo to make it more gender neutral after already updating it to include women.
The original VA logo was from President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address. He declared that the official responsibility of this nation is:
“Take care of the battle-bearer, his widow, and his orphan.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs has updated this logo to include women veterans like me, changing it to:
“Fulfilling President Lincoln's promise 'to care for him who shall bear the battle, his widow, and his orphan, by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans.'
As if adding the second caveat that women like me are now serving our nation wasn't enough, the Department of Veterans Affairs has taken it a step further by changing the slogan to:
“Fulfilling President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military, their families, caregivers, and survivors.”
Removing the quote doesn't make me feel more like a veteran. It is insulting to my intelligence that I cannot make the mental leap that under President Lincoln, only men served in battle. Now the nation has evolved to allow women like me to serve in battle.
VA failed
Moreover, thanks to the actual quote and the belief that President Lincoln had an obligation to the nation to care for those who “endured battle,” veterans like me have health care options and other entitlements. I'll leave you with some current statistics:
- In 2023, veteran homelessness increased by 7.4%.
- On one night in January 2023, there were 35,574 homeless veterans.
- 17 veterans commit suicide every day
- An electronic health record problem could cause 250,000 veterans to get the wrong medications from VA hospitals
I do not get medical care from the VA hospital. Not because of a picture from World War II but because I don't trust that they will keep their solemn promise to take care of me, and they might make me worse. Perhaps it is time to focus on caring for veterans rather than traumatizing images.
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