Veteran

====Veterans' benefits in the United States====

====Veterans' benefits in the United States====

President [[Abraham Lincoln]], in his [[Lincoln's second inaugural address|second inaugural address]] in 1865 towards the end of the [[American Civil War]], famously called for good treatment of veterans: "[T]o care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan". The American Civil War produced veterans' organizations, such as the [[Grand Army of the Republic]] and [[United Confederate Veterans]]. The treatment of veterans changed after the [[World War I|First World War]]. In the years following, discontented veterans became a source of instability. They could quickly organize, had links to the army and often had arms themselves. The [[Bonus Army]] of unemployed veterans was one of the most important protest movements of the [[Great Depression]], marching on Washington, D.C. to get a claimed bonus now that Congress had promised them decades in the future.

President [[Abraham Lincoln]], in his [[Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address|second inaugural address]] in 1865 towards the end of the [[American Civil War]], famously called for good treatment of veterans: "[T]o care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan". The American Civil War produced veterans' organizations, such as the [[Grand Army of the Republic]] and [[United Confederate Veterans]]. The treatment of veterans changed after the [[World War I|First World War]]. In the years following, discontented veterans became a source of instability. They could quickly organize, had links to the army and often had arms themselves. The [[Bonus Army]] of unemployed veterans was one of the most important protest movements of the [[Great Depression]], marching on Washington, D.C. to get a claimed bonus now that Congress had promised them decades in the future.

Each state of the United States sets specific criteria for state-specific veterans' benefits. For federal medical benefits from the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Department of Veterans Affairs]] (VA) hospitals, prior to 7 September 1980 the veteran must have served at least 180 days of active duty, after the above-mentioned date the veteran must have served at least 24 months. However, if the veteran was medically discharged and receives a VA service-connected disability stipend, the time limits are not applicable.

Each state of the United States sets specific criteria for state-specific veterans' benefits. For federal medical benefits from the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Department of Veterans Affairs]] (VA) hospitals, prior to 7 September 1980 the veteran must have served at least 180 days of active duty, after the above-mentioned date the veteran must have served at least 24 months. However, if the veteran was medically discharged and receives a VA service-connected disability stipend, the time limits are not applicable.