Robert Wilkie: “I do not care who gets credit. I do not care what went on before. We have got 20 veterans who are dying.”

I am very happy and humbled to be part of that outstanding workforce that, on a daily basis, helps veterans remind all of us why we sleep soundly at night.

There is nothing more important, and there is nothing more tragic, and you have my commitment that as long as I am privileged to be part of the VA team, that will continue to be the case.

I intend to exercise those powers whenever I see a problem because veterans are first; the institution is not first.

You never put your uniform away. You have to get well to remind your countrymen every day that freedom is never free.