President Obama will use his Veterans Day platform to push Congress for a broad slate of new legislation and reforms, including plans to squeeze for-profit colleges' ability to accept GI Bill benefits.

The commander in chief is also touting progress and reforms at the Department of Veterans Affairs at a time when public confidence in the agency is still shaky, and lawmakers’ criticism of operations continues to rise.But White House officials said progress on a number of veterans priorities has been steady and laudable, including a dramatic reduction in the benefits claims backlog in recent years and improved aid for homeless veterans.

On Wednesday, Virginia officials will announce they will be the first state to end veterans homelessness, just a few weeks after Connecticut became the first state to end chronic homelessness within its borders.MilitaryTimes

The late Jerry Pippin recalls his service during Vietnam War recorded in 2011