Today's #VeteranOfTheDay is Jacob Parrott of the U.S. Army. Parrott was part of the 33rd Ohio Infantry and saw action at the Battle of Ivy Mountain and the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862, where he was captured. He was beaten 110 times before being exchanged and became the first recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

His Medal of Honor citation reads: "One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of General Mitchell penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Georgia, in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta."

Jacob died in December 1908, at the age of 65. We honor his service.

Valor Games Athlete, U.S. Navy Veteran, Jerry Padgett from Tampa, Florida participates in Archery at the Valor Games Southeast at Duke University. Good luck to all the Veteran Athletes here this week. #MissionRedefined

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Adaptive Sports - U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

Valor Games Athlete, Navy Veteran, Jerry Padgett from Tampa Florida participates in Archery today at the Valor Games Southeast at Duke University. Day 3 of competition starts tomorrow with Hand Cycling. Good luck to all the Veteran Athletes here this week. Thank you to Bridge II Sports for another great event. #MissionRedefined. MetLife

Secretary Bob McDonald: Let me be clear. Inaction by Congress will punish the nearly 400,000 Colorado Veterans and families that Aurora will serve – as well as taxpayers across the Nation. Read more at: http://1.usa.gov/1SeZYzf


Statement from Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald
VAntage Point
VA Secretary Bob McDonald made the following statement regarding the construction of the Denver Replacement Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado.