American Legion Calls for Immediate Action on Construction of the VA Hospital

DENVER - Dec. 15, 2014 - PRLog -- Once again The American Legion Department of Colorado is disappointed and dismayed by the fact that the Veterans Administration is unable to complete the promised new Denver VA Medical Center. Over 20 years ago the American Legion asked the VA and the Congress to consider building a new center on the campus of the former Fitzsimons Army Base to replace an aging facility on 10th and Clermont. Today veterans are still waiting.

We can lay the blame on the VA and their inability to manage a hospital capital construction project, the Congress for not fully funding the new facility, the contractor for not insisting the VA submit a workable plan before work began, and perhaps we can blame the Veterans organizations for not being diligent enough in our oversight.

But now is not the time to play the blame game. The mantra for years has been just "Build the Damn Thing." Now is the time for all parties to get together and work towards a final design and a final occupancy date. In our opinion the VA must start this process, immediately. If they don't then we must ask the Obama Administration to seek out and summarily fire any VA official that seeks to bury this project.

We support our congressional delegation in their call for a 60 day contract extension until the Army Corps of Engineers can enter the picture and either take over the construction completely or provide the needed direction to the finish line.

Those of us that use the VA on a regular basis know of the dedicated doctors, nurses and other VA employee care givers that really care about those they serve. The VA needs to do what it does best, medical care for veterans. We believe that it is beyond question now that the VA does not know how to build a hospital. Proof is that in the same time frame the civilian community has constructed and opened over 6 new hospitals in the Denver area. The VA should learn from them. The ones suffering, the ones who are getting the short end of the stick are veterans of course, dying by the thousands daily.  They should be cared for in this new hospital, but unfortunately some will never see it.

JUST BUILD THE DAMN THING!

Richard Humphrey

Department Commander

The American Legion

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For further information please contact Charles Pat Smith, Department Adjutant at 303-366-5201