McDonald addresses Legion
VA Secretary Robert McDonald addresses members of The American Legion on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![Legionnaires file into the hall before VA Secretary Robert McDonald addresses members of The American Legion on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/001_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9460_gallery.jpg?itok=C7SrIwXp)
Legionnaires file into the hall before VA Secretary Robert McDonald addresses members of The American Legion on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![National Commander Mike Helm introduces VA Secretary Robert McDonald before he addresses members of The American Legion on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/002_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9487_gallery.jpg?itok=3jvsg9qf)
National Commander Mike Helm introduces VA Secretary Robert McDonald before he addresses members of The American Legion on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![“That was wrong, and I have no excuse. I have great respect for those who’ve served our nation in Special Forces. They, and all veterans, deserve a Department of Veterans Affairs that provides them the care and benefits that they have earned. We at th](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/005_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9570_gallery.jpg?itok=-X4KOdKc)
“That was wrong, and I have no excuse. I have great respect for those who’ve served our nation in Special Forces. They, and all veterans, deserve a Department of Veterans Affairs that provides them the care and benefits that they have earned. We at th
![“In an attempt to connect with that veteran and make him feel comfortable, I incorrectly stated that I, too, had been in Special Forces,” McDonald said.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/003_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9507_gallery.jpg?itok=8WyBtMrB)
“In an attempt to connect with that veteran and make him feel comfortable, I incorrectly stated that I, too, had been in Special Forces,” McDonald said.
![“There was no ill intent meant. If you look at 61 years of my biography and résumé, nowhere on there will you ever find Special Forces. I made a mistake. I apologized for that. What I was trying to do was connect with a veteran and get that veteran in](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/009_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9684_gallery.jpg?itok=wHbxVOvq)
“There was no ill intent meant. If you look at 61 years of my biography and résumé, nowhere on there will you ever find Special Forces. I made a mistake. I apologized for that. What I was trying to do was connect with a veteran and get that veteran in
![Marv Sandbek asks VA Secretary Robert McDonald a question durring his press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/004_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9554_gallery.jpg?itok=oiaiE4WT)
Marv Sandbek asks VA Secretary Robert McDonald a question durring his press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![Legionnaires ask VA Secretary Robert McDonald questions durring his press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/006_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9596_gallery.jpg?itok=ymhuijRU)
Legionnaires ask VA Secretary Robert McDonald questions durring his press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![VA Secretary Robert McDonald addresses members of The American Legion on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/007_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9612_gallery.jpg?itok=EQ2xFgqO)
VA Secretary Robert McDonald addresses members of The American Legion on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![A Legionnaire thanks Robert McDonald for his service durring his press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/008_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9629_gallery.jpg?itok=m3QVcBit)
A Legionnaire thanks Robert McDonald for his service durring his press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![National Membership Chairman Ken Orock asks VA Secretary Robert McDonald a question durring his press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/010_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9703_gallery.jpg?itok=2SKLdmP9)
National Membership Chairman Ken Orock asks VA Secretary Robert McDonald a question durring his press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 24 during the annual Washington Conference. Photo by Lucas Carter / The American Legion.
![“I’m an Airborne Ranger,” Helm said. “I have a brother who’s Special Forces. I would never claim to be something that he was, and he would never claim to be something that I was. It’s a pretty big stretch to say that you were trying to bond wi](https://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/styles/scale800w/public/011_02242015_mcdonald_presser_9767_gallery.jpg?itok=c6pRRyIz)
“I’m an Airborne Ranger,” Helm said. “I have a brother who’s Special Forces. I would never claim to be something that he was, and he would never claim to be something that I was. It’s a pretty big stretch to say that you were trying to bond wi