On January 10, 2024, Ohio Congressmen Greg Landsman and Michael Turner introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation in Congress to permanently house the National VA History Center in Dayton, Ohio.

They were joined in introducing this legislation by both Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance.

The Veterans Affairs Centennial and Heritage Act of 2024 would establish a Veterans Affairs’ History Office within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and be located within the site of the Dayton’s VA’s Medical Center.

The History Office would be responsible for collecting, preserving, and providing access to relevant historical records, artifacts, photographs, VA-related art, and cultural resources of the Department. The Office would also document the history of its’ predecessor veterans’ organizations.

“It’s extremely important to honor and support our veterans,” said Representative Landsman. “The National VA History Center would bridge the past with the present, attracting visitors to Ohio so they can better understand our veterans’ sacrifices and know they will never be forgotten.”

The History Center will be located on the 450-acre campus in the Old Headquarters and Clubhouse buildings, which are two (2) historic Dayton VAMC campus buildings, constructed in 1871 and 1881.

“Founded in the wake of the Civil War, the Dayton VA Medical Center was one of our nation’s first hospitals for American soldiers,” said Senator J.D. Vance.

“This institution is steeped in an incredible history, and I am proud to sponsor legislation to honor the crucial role the Department of Veterans Affairs and its predecessors have played for over a century in providing the care our veterans needed,” continued Senator Vance.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will celebrate its’ centennial in 2030. The History Center Office would coordinate all centennial-activities.

“The National VA History Center is a great honor for the Dayton community and Ohio veterans and recognizes our state’s unique history of service,” commented Senator Brown.

This legislation will ensure that this Center will be permanently, in Dayton doing the important work of collecting and preserving the history of countless servicemembers and honoring the Dayton’s VA Medical Center’s 150-year history of serving Ohio veterans,” related Senator Brown.

In 2022, Deputy VA Secretary Donald Remy visited the Dayton VAMC and stated that VA plans were progressing for an estimated $100 million-dollar National VA History Center at the Dayton VAMC campus.

This Historical Center had the potential being a national destination and attracting thousands of in-person and virtual visitors on an annual basis. It would also employ a significant number of employees.

“This is the right place at the right time to bring together all the magnificent history of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to reflect upon the service that veterans have provided to this nation,” noted VA Secretary Remy.

My Opinion: This is one of the first times, that I can remember, in a long time, that elected officials of both major parties in both the Senate and House of Representatives have introduced bipartisan and bicameral veteran-related legislation.

My first thought, was “Why was Dayton selected for this honor of being the location of the VA’s History Center, instead of Cincinnati?” However, it became obvious that Dayton was the better choice for several reasons.

The Dayton VAMC was one of the three (3) original veteran hospitals and was accepting Civil War soldiers for medical care as early as 1867, only two (2) years after the Civil War ended.

The Dayton VAMC has a 450-acre campus area available for the History Center and a new site would have to be selected in the Cincinnati area.

Also, the Dayton VAMC campus already has two (2) structures available for the transition into a History Center. If Cincinnati was selected, new structures would be required to be constructed or renovated.

With all things considered, the Dayton VAMC was the best choice!

BioSketch: John Plahovinsak is a retired 32-year Army veteran, who served from 1967 to 1999. He the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio’s Hospital Chairman and the Adjutant of DAV Chapter #63 (Clermont County). He can be contacted at: plahovinsak@msn.com.

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