VA’s proposal in West L.A.
Re “Greener VA pastures,” editorial, Sept. 2
Your editorial not only wrongly asserts that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (the Department of Defense does), but it misrepresents the plans for the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. The VA intends to:
* Modernize or replace the hospital.
* Designate three buildings specifically for homeless veterans programs.
* Construct a columbarium at the national cemetery to provide space for the cremated remains of veterans.
* Relocate the VA regional office from the federal building to the campus.
* Designate 16 acres of campus land to the Veterans Park Conservancy for their use.
From 5 to 9 p.m. this evening, a public meeting will be held at the Wadsworth Theatre on the West L.A. campus to discuss my decisions and solicit the public’s opinion on whether we should build a new hospital, renovate the existing one, build a new VA-operated nursing home or modernize the hospital’s existing in- and outpatient mental health facilities.
Jim Nicholson
Secretary
Veterans Affairs
Washington
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