Ed Derwinski
1926–2012 (age 86)
Politician
Biography
Ed Derwinski offered decades of service at the federal level, culminating in his appointment as the first secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he worked to improve care for those who had served. A steady organizer and champion for military families, he guided the department through its formative years with care and determination.
His commitment to veterans and their communities is remembered with gratitude, now commemorated at Arlington National Cemetery.