Discover the Top 8 Surprising Fun Facts about the Department of Veterans Affairs

1. Togus: The Original North

Way before the Game of Thrones gave us the North, the Togus VA Medical Center was having wild encounters with Maine's wildlife, all while healing wounded soldiers in the snowy woods: Opened in 1866, Togus is the oldest veterans' facility in the U.S., boasting a 67-operating bed medical center, a 100-bed nursing home, and an on-site National Cemetery sprawled across 500+ acres of forests and facilities, proving that there's more than just White Walkers in the North.
Source => practicelink.com

2. VA's Space-Health Alliance

In a cosmic twist of "Houston, we have a problem": The Department of Veterans Affairs has been boldly going where few have gone before by partnering with NASA on space shuttle missions to conduct research on bone growth, immune function, and vaccine targets. This out-of-this-world collaboration has led to some truly stellar findings that continue to enhance healthcare for our veterans and improve the wellbeing of our space-faring troops.
Source => news.va.gov

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=> Fun Facts about Us-History

3. The Graveyard VIP Treatment

Roll out the tombstone red carpet and hold onto your Ouija boards: the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), a part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, oversees nearly 300,000 additional Veterans and servicemembers in military cemeteries run by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, including Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, making it easy to locate your dearly departed using the Year of Death and State/Territory location of interment.
Source => cem.va.gov

4. VA's Heartwarming Home Loans

Home is where the heart is, and for veterans, that heart could be nestled snugly in a little VA-loan-funded abode: Since 1944, the VA home loan program has guaranteed over 20 million home loans to eligible veterans and service members, ensuring that economic and sociological challenges of post-war readjustment don't stop our heroes from having a place to hang their helmet.
Source => armytimes.com

5. Laughter + VA: Ultimate Medicine

Whoever said laughter is the best medicine never met the Department of Veterans Affairs: Boasting the title of the largest integrated health care system in the U.S., they serve up a hearty dose of physical, psychological, dental, and social services to veterans, while also training tens of thousands of health care professionals yearly.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

6. Digital Doctor House Calls

Heard about the VA's Digital Doctor in the Dell? They've been redefining "house calls" for our courageous veterans: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has provided over 12,000 veterans with internet access or video-capable devices through the Digital Divide Consult program, enabling them to engage in virtual health care during the pandemic – particularly essential for those who are older, rural, homeless, or in temporary housing.
Source => news.va.gov

7. VA's Time-Traveling 5G Tech

Who needs a flux capacitor when the VA's got 5G? With enough oomph to make even Doc Brown jealous: The Department of Veterans Affairs has implemented cutting-edge 5G technology in four of its facilities, enhancing telehealth services and speeding up the transfer of hefty medical files like x-rays and MRIs. Now that's what we call a gigawatt upgrade!
Source => news.va.gov

8. Sun-Powered VA Facilities

Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo): The Department of Veterans Affairs has invested a whopping $20.2 million to bring solar energy systems to 18 VA medical centers across eight states and even in American Samoa. These eco-friendly installations, up and running by September 2010, have a combined capacity of 3,020 kilowatts and take their sun-catching spots on rooftops, carports, or as ground-mounted setups, shining a light on the department's commitment to renewable energy and top-notch patient care.
Source => va.gov