The nation’s Veterans Affairs chief hopes Americans take time to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army on June 14, calling it an opportunity to remember “how good we have it.”
Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Douglas Collins spoke to Steve Lance of NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times, on June 9 about the Army’s birthday celebration, his personal faith, and the progress VA hospitals have made in improving service to some 9 million former service members.
Pride in Our Veterans
The country will celebrate the Army’s founding with a military parade in Washington, which Collins believes is an important event for members of all armed services, past and present.“Sometimes you just need to celebrate,” Collins said. “I think the president [understands that] there’s a national ethos out there that says we’re proud of our military.”
The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were established in 1775, the Coast Guard in 1915, the Air Force in 1947, and the Space Force in 2019.
Collins said every person who has worn the uniform stands in the line of patriots who served their country, dating to the Revolution.
“They’re tracing their lineage back to the citizen soldier who went out and said, ‘We’re going to be a country. We’re not going to be told what to do,’” he said.
For citizens, Collins said, the event is an occasion to give thanks for those who are willing to sacrifice themselves to protect the nation.
“When you’re asleep at night, they’re the ones who are going to get called,” he said. “Maybe it’s worth one day to think about how good we have it.”
VA Improvements
Upon his confirmation as secretary of the VA in February, Collins inherited an organization plagued by inefficiency. By focusing on the mission to serve veterans and working toward specific outcomes, the agency has made significant progress over the past four months, Collins said.As an example, Collins cited a significant reduction in the number of disability applications that had not been processed within 200 days. The backlog had reached more than 260,000 during COVID-19 and had remained largely unchanged. Collins directed his staff to work intently on that issue.
“We’re under 200,000 for the first time in over two years,” Collins said, a reduction of 25 percent.
“It matters because the veteran is not having to wait for a decision” in order to move forward with life, he added.
The agency has also reformed its service to Gold Star families, those who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.
“We were too much on what I call the clinical side,” Collins said, meaning that VA representatives described their services to families in businesslike terms.
Collins directed the agency to take a more compassionate approach, assisting families in a way similar to that of funeral directors.
Personal Faith
When asked how he hopes his work for the VA will be remembered, Collins said, “That he made a difference.”Personal faith is vital to achieving that, Collins said. He likened that faith to eyeglasses, which he wears.
“I can see, technically, without my glasses. But when I put my glasses on, I see much clearer,” Collins said.
“My faith is that way.
“For me, faith is all. Outside my savior, Jesus, I have nothing.”
